86 straight hours below zero nothing for the books

Last update: January 16, 2009 - 8:21 PM

It was cold, all right. Colder than Moscow. Colder than Fairbanks. So cold that if you wanted to talk about it, your teeth chattered for you.

The 86 straight hours of zero or below temperatures in the Twin Cities, which ended at 1:10 p.m. Friday, was "the longest streak in the 21st century," noted assistant state climatologist Pete Boulay.

But not a record. It was the longest such streak in 12 years, but not even close to the Twin Cities record of 186 hours, set 97 years ago. It doesn't even break into the top 10, Boulay noted.

Moreover, Friday's low of 22 below in the Twin Cities was only the second coldest temperature so far in this short century.

Boulay said winter weather record watchers might want to pin their hopes instead on the enduring snow cover. To reach that mark, the snow now on the ground would have to remain until April 14.

So be careful what you wish for.

BILL MCAULIFFE