Back in the ’80s, staring at a TV camera, I was fond of saying, “Minnesota is the Super Bowl of weather!” That’s 1980s, not 1880s, in case my grandkids are reading this. Some thought it was mere hyperbole, but in this rare instance I was right.
Minnesota experiences a rare “humid continental” climate, characterized by violent storms, extreme cold and tropical heat. The only other place on the planet with a similar extreme climate? The Manchurian Plain of northeastern China, which shares a similar latitude and geographic position as the Upper Midwest. Yep, weather sure can get crazy near the interior of large continents, well away from the moderating effects of oceans.
Nothing too wild brewing in the seven-day outlook: 40s today and Friday, with daytime highs in the low 20s this weekend. Saturday’s band of snow may stay over far southern Minnesota, possibly brushing the metro with a snowy coating. Nothing subzero in sight.
By the way, Minnesota has a 174-degree range in temperature, from minus 60 degrees at Tower (1996) to 114 degres at Moorhead (1936). Have a nice day.
