Minnesota Weather - Just the facts, ma'm
Tara (TR) recently confessed her belief that it is winter in Minnesota all year long. Don't worry, Tara, you're not the only one who thinks that.
When I was recruiting people nationwide to move to Minnesota, my biggest response was "it's too cold there" or "isn't it winter all year long there?"
No. We have a mild/wet spring. We have hot summers. We have crisp, warmish falls. We have cold winters -- winter is a few months long, just like any other season.
Minnesota is a tall state, so the weather in the south (where Minneapolis/St. Paul are) is usually different from the northern area (Duluth). In fact, most national weather maps show all of Minnesota's temperature being that of a way north town called International Falls. It is usually about 20 degrees warmer in the southern part of the state. That's why people think it's so cold here, I think, b/c the whole state is usually represented with the temperature of one of the most northern towns....which is hours away from Minneapolis. Twin Cities weather is similar to Chicago (I've lived in both).
December, January, February: Pretty damn cold. Usually there's a week or so in January when it doesn't get above zero. Usually January and February (and early March) are anywhere from 10-20 degrees. I'd say most of our snow is during this three month period too. However, March starts showing some 50 degree days and the snow usually is gone at the end of March.
March, April, May: March is still winter for a majority of the month, but like I said, you start to feel spring by the end of March. April is usually very rainy. May is when it starts to feel like summer is coming. May temps range anywhere from 50 on a chilly day to maybe about 80.
June, July, August: Summer. Humid. Hot. We have 10,000 lakes, so it gets pretty humid and there are lots o' mosquitoes. Temps are usually anywhere from 70s - 100s.
Especially August. Gets really hot.
September, October, November: Most of September is still pretty summerish. Starts to cool off at night, though. October is sweatshirt/jeans weather, probably my favorite. November is an in-between month, like March & May. It can be warmish and it gets cold around Thanksgiving. It's about the time we start to wear heavier coats again.
There -- is that cleared up now?? IT'S NOT WINTER HERE ALL YEAR LONG!! We have two kinda cold months (November, March); 3 cold months (Dec-Feb); (3 mild months Apr, May, Sept) and 3 hot months (June-Aug).
Okay - I needed to get that off my chest b/c it's actually kind of a pet peeve of mine.
Nicollet Mall- Christmastime
Minneapolis - Spring/Summer
Minneapolis from the Mississippi River - Fall
When I was recruiting people nationwide to move to Minnesota, my biggest response was "it's too cold there" or "isn't it winter all year long there?"
No. We have a mild/wet spring. We have hot summers. We have crisp, warmish falls. We have cold winters -- winter is a few months long, just like any other season.
Minnesota is a tall state, so the weather in the south (where Minneapolis/St. Paul are) is usually different from the northern area (Duluth). In fact, most national weather maps show all of Minnesota's temperature being that of a way north town called International Falls. It is usually about 20 degrees warmer in the southern part of the state. That's why people think it's so cold here, I think, b/c the whole state is usually represented with the temperature of one of the most northern towns....which is hours away from Minneapolis. Twin Cities weather is similar to Chicago (I've lived in both).
December, January, February: Pretty damn cold. Usually there's a week or so in January when it doesn't get above zero. Usually January and February (and early March) are anywhere from 10-20 degrees. I'd say most of our snow is during this three month period too. However, March starts showing some 50 degree days and the snow usually is gone at the end of March.
March, April, May: March is still winter for a majority of the month, but like I said, you start to feel spring by the end of March. April is usually very rainy. May is when it starts to feel like summer is coming. May temps range anywhere from 50 on a chilly day to maybe about 80.
June, July, August: Summer. Humid. Hot. We have 10,000 lakes, so it gets pretty humid and there are lots o' mosquitoes. Temps are usually anywhere from 70s - 100s.
Especially August. Gets really hot.
September, October, November: Most of September is still pretty summerish. Starts to cool off at night, though. October is sweatshirt/jeans weather, probably my favorite. November is an in-between month, like March & May. It can be warmish and it gets cold around Thanksgiving. It's about the time we start to wear heavier coats again.
There -- is that cleared up now?? IT'S NOT WINTER HERE ALL YEAR LONG!! We have two kinda cold months (November, March); 3 cold months (Dec-Feb); (3 mild months Apr, May, Sept) and 3 hot months (June-Aug).
Okay - I needed to get that off my chest b/c it's actually kind of a pet peeve of mine.
Nicollet Mall- Christmastime
Minneapolis - Spring/Summer
Minneapolis from the Mississippi River - Fall
posted by Kiddo78 at
5:44 PM
8 Comments:
i've always wanted to see the twin cities....perhaps someday I will make it up there and see the land of the Scandinavians.
By
Brechi, at 6:10 PM
Great lesson in MN weather! Heck, I'd move there just for the social life. :)
By
walktrotcanter, at 7:09 AM
Thanks for the low down on the weather. Does it snow the same amount in Chicago and Minneapolis? It actually sounds a lot like Fairbanks, Alaska - mosquitos and all, but not so cold for so long. And it doesn't usually get up to 100. Some people think it's cold all year round in Alaska, but summer is just beautiful (at least where I've been). Not humid and 70's and low 80's mostly.
By
Christine, at 3:58 PM
Nice pics, wherever you found them. Yeah, people have really weird misconceptions about Minnesota weather. I love Minneapolis weather. Except for August. That hot humidity stuff is for the birds. And that one week you mention in January is no good either. But the wildly changing seasons are awesome for clothing because just when you're getting sick of your summer wardrobe you get to break out your sweaters and corduroys. It rules.
By
dan, at 4:20 PM
My husband and I are visiting Minneapolis in October. We can't wait to see the fall colors in Minnehaha Park and at Como Zoo. When you live in the South, a bit of cooler weather is WONderful.
By
Anonymous, at 10:39 AM
Thanks for this helpful weather overview! Planning a just-for-fun visit this September or October.
By
emetter, at 10:24 PM
Thanks a lot for this Minnesota weather lesson! Gonna go there for sept and was wondering what to wear then. I love Minnesota, because of its weather but for sure because of its people!
By
Anonymous, at 4:23 PM
Thanks you for posting this, although five years old I'll take any help!! Im visiting Minneapolis in November and just trying to figure out what to pack!!
By
dizzy_izzy, at 9:24 PM
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