The new USDA plant hardiness map for indicates that Minnesota growing zones include 3a and 3b in the northerly regions, 4a in the middle of the state and 4b in the south. An extremely tiny pocket of warmer winter low temperatures exists in the most southerly location and is categorized as 5a. Minnesota has a humid continental climate , with hot summers and cold winters. Minnesota 's location in the Upper Midwest allows it to experience some of the widest variety of weather in the United States, with each of the four seasons having its own distinct characteristics.
A cursory glance at North American weather maps confirms that yes, most of Canada is indeed colder than Minnesota. Always remember: Everything is worse in Canada. A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot and often humid summers and cold sometimes severely cold winters. Is Minnesota the coldest state? Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota are states that get a break in summer from ranking in the ten coldest.
It is because Minnesota and North Dakota get so exceptionally cold in winter, that they place just behind Alaska for the lowest annual average temperature. Is Minnesota a good place to live?
With beautiful natural areas, a strong economy, and great quality of life, Minnesota has a reputation for being a great place to live and buy a home. However, beneath its hard candy shell lies the bitter reality that Minnesota is truly no place to live. The western region of Minnesota experiences the hottest summer temperatures. Coteau des Prairies can heat cities to the north of it similar to how places in the Rocky Mountains are warmed by Chinook winds.
As southwest winds blow down the slope of Coteau des Prairies, the air compresses and warms. This heats the hot air even further and often brings locations such as Beardsley and Moorhead the warmest temperatures in the state, despite their higher latitudes.
The summer months of June, July, August, and September account for nearly half of the annual precipitation total across the state of Minnesota. Most of this rain falls from thunderstorms, a frequent summer occurrence. Even though summer is the primary season for Minnesota to experience thunderstorms, they can occur from March to November. These storms can become severe, producing large hail , strong tornadoes, and large bow echos that result in damaging straight-line winds.
Minnesota has experienced several major derecho events, most recently the Boundary Waters-Canadian Derecho which blew down millions of trees in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on July 4, In addition to severe conditions, thunderstorms produce heavy rain and cloud to ground lightning. Heavy rain brings flash floods to Minnesota an average of three days per year.
With the exception of hail, summer precipitation in Minnesota is almost always in the form of rain. The lone exception is in far northern Minnesota, where in mid-September, small amounts of snow become a possibility. Droughts are an annual summer concern in Minnesota, especially for farmers. The growing season which varies from 90 days per year in the Iron Range to days in southeast Minnesota is when Minnesota averages its highest percentage of annual precipitation, so a lack of rainfall during this time period can be devastating to crops.
The last major drought in Minnesota was in During that year, the period of April—July was the 2nd driest in the previous century, and the period of May—August was the hottest on record.
The combination of dry skies and heat caused a severe drought which cost the state approximately 1. Other memorable drought years were and the Dust Bowl years of the s. During the dust bowl, inappropriate farming techniques enhanced by years of drought conditions led to dust storms in Southern Minnesota and the other parts of the Midwest.
Drought conditions also have helped spawn forest fires. In the Great Hinckley Fire destroyed Hinckley killing an estimated people, and in a forest fire killed people in the vicinity of Cloquet. Tornadoes are most common in the southern half of the state, which is located on the northern edge of Tornado Alley. Just over a third of tornadoes in Minnesota strike between pm and pm. On average Minnesota has an F5 tornado once every 25 years.
Some of the notable Minnesota tornadoes and outbreaks are:. Autumn weather in Minnesota is marked by the rapid decrease of severe thunderstorms, dramatic cooling, and eventually the possibility of blizzards. With summer-time heat still prevalent in the southern U. Because of this, the jet stream, which tends to weaken during the summer months, begins to re-strengthen.
This leads to quicker changes in weather patterns and increasingly strong storm systems. As autumn moves on, these storm systems bring with them progressively colder air, eventually changing the rain over snow, generally starting in October in the northern part of the state and November in the south.
By late October and November atmospheric dynamics are generally in place to allow storm systems to become very intense. In fact, Minnesota's all-time record low pressure was recorded during autumn on October 26, If these powerful storm systems are able to draw enough cold air southward from Canada, they can evolve into powerful blizzards. Some of Minnesota's most memorable winter storm events have occurred during the middle part of the autumn season. Known deaths in this blizzard reached , 49 of them in Minnesota.
On October 31, , much of Minnesota was hit by the Halloween Blizzard. It was the single largest snowfall ever recorded in many communities across eastern Minnesota. Minnesota's climate has done much to shape the image of the state. Minnesota has a late but intense spring, a summer of water sports, an autumn of brilliantly colored leaves, and a long winter with outdoor sports and activities.
Water skiing was invented in Minnesota by Ralph Samuelson, and the Minneapolis Aquatennial features a milk carton boat race. Contestants build boats from milk cartons and float them on Minneapolis area lakes, with recognition based more on colorful and imaginative designs than on actual racing performance. But while Minnesota's warm summers provide its natives and tourists with a variety of outdoor activities, the state is known for its winters. Climate is the average of weather over time.
Start Your Review of Minnesota. Members receive 10 FREE city profile downloads a month, unlimited access to our detailed cost of living calculator and analysis, unlimited access to our DataEngine, and more. Enhanced Cost of Living Calculator Now includes childcare, taxes, health, housing for home owners vs renters, insurance costs and more when you upgrade to premium. Log In Sign Up. Climate in Minnesota. Snowfall Precipitation July High Low 1.
Snowfall is highest at 70" mm in the northern highlands of Lake Superior and decreases to 40" mm in the south and west. At least one inch of snow covers the northern lands for days annually. Hail is common from May to July, while freezing rain and ice storms are frequent in the southern regions in the winter. Minnesota receives an average of hours of sunshine annually. The best time to visit Minnesota is from May to September that includes late spring, summer, and early autumn seasons.
The Great Lakes bring pleasant temperatures in their vicinity during the summer. The fall season is attractive due to the beautiful foliage, the return of the summer crowds, and mild temperatures. The freeze-free period begins from the second half of May in the south to June in the north. The growing season lasts till mid-September to October , with the most prolonged period of days in the southeast. The numerous lakes and warm temperatures during the summer attract visitors in large numbers.
The fishing and hunting seasons are in full swing in August and September. The worst time to visit Minnesota is the winter season from December to February , with severe cold amid short days.
The northern highlands near Lake Superior, receive vast amounts of snow in the cold season. Blizzards are frequent in the winter, with wind speeds higher than 35 miles per hour and visibility limited to one-fourth of a mile. Snowstorms bring vast amounts of snow and stall everyday life, cause power outages, and extensive property damage.
The days are short in the cold season as the sunshine limits to a few hours daily. Minnesota is vulnerable to thunderstorms, hailstorms, blizzards, derechos, and tornadoes. Thunderstorms bring the most considerable damage to property, and the annual frequency ranges from 30 in the north to 45 in the south. Hailstorms and windstorms occasionally accompany the thunderstorms to inflict substantial damage. Derechos are widespread storms in the presence of straight-line winds that step up to hurricane strength and cause heavy rains and flash floods.
Blizzards result in the loss of lives, livestock, and property. The Halloween Blizzard that lasted from October 31 to November 3, , brought 28" January is typically the coldest and snowiest month of the year in Minnesota with frigid temperatures. It is exceedingly challenging to stay outdoors, even for a few minutes without heavy coats, caps, and mittens. Duluth on the Lake Superior coastline records up to 20" mm of snow, while the rest of the state registers 8" Wind speeds exacerbate the effect of the cold further, and snowstorms deposit massive amounts of snow in the winter.
Black ice and slippery roads make driving a challenge with the need for snow tires. Conditions are favorable for skiing, snowmobiling, skating, and ice fishing. New Year's week is icy, and January is the time to avoid a visit to Minnesota.
February is a cold winter month in Minnesota that is severely cold with heavy snowfall. The snowfall is substantial even in the relatively mild south, with places like Minneapolis, Rochester, and Faribault registering up to 8" The February sun is mild, and the sunlight lasts for a daily 4 hours in the majority of the state. Heavy winter coats are a necessity to move outdoors along with caps that cover the ears entirely.
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