Anybody up for some good news? The weather outside — the one place everybody can safely, expert-approvingly and even therapeutically spread out — is more pleasant than usual this year.
Not only has this month been warmer overall than average in the Twin Cities, but March 2020 has achieved a bronze medal of sorts.
"Every single day this month, our highs have been above freezing," said Jacob Beitlich, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen. "That has only happened two other times since records began in 1873. ... It's kind of remarkable."
Feb. 28 was the last time in 2020 that the temperature failed to climb above 32 degrees. Only 2010, when the last below-freezing high was Feb. 26, and 1878, when the last freezing day was Feb. 10, 2010 — "weird, that was a long time, but that's what the data say," Beitlich said — have bested that feat.
To be clear, this March is warmer as an overall average. Peak temperatures are another matter. The month has not yet seen 70 degrees, as it did in March 2016, let alone 80, as it did in March 2012. Instead, highs (including those forecast through the 31st) dance between the high 30s and mid-50s.
No big deal for a Minnesotan, but not exactly balmy.
"I know, I know, I know," Beitlich said. Still, "the great thing about this time of year is our normal averages warm up pretty quickly."
Whether the air agrees or not, it has officially been spring since Thursday night. That was the day of this year's vernal equinox and astronomical spring or, as most people call it, "spring," said Bob King of Duluth, who writes an astronomy blog as "Astro Bob."
