Weathering winter 2008-09: A good old Brrr-ainerd winter
Maybe the several lean winters of the past decade have spoiled us.
This winter, framed from December through March with snow and bracing cold temperatures, could be perceived as one of the more harsh winters in recent memory.
In truth, it's closer to average as far as snow is concerned. What has been anything but average this winter is the plunging thermometer.
This winter reminds people of winters long ago, I guess is one way to put it, said Pete Boulay, assistant state climatologist with the DNR.
Babe the Blue Ox, one of the Oxtrot statues in Nisswa, has a fitting name this winter, which ranks in the top third as far as cold, according to the Minnesota State Climatologist's office. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey » Purchase reprints of this photo.
While the 49.9 inches of snow on the ground is about 4 inches above average since 1991, that average is skewed well-below-average snowfalls of 22.7 inches in 2002-2003 and 31.7 inches in 2004-2005 and in 2005-2006.
This winter had produced the most snow since the winter of 2000-2001 winter, when 58.2 inches of snow fell. In the 1990s, five winters featured snowfall more than 50 inches, topped by 80.6 inches in the 1996-1997 winter, the most in Brainerd in 100 years.
Though Brainerd is floating near average, snow depths are up in most of northern Minnesota, said Steve Gohde, observing program leader with the National Weather Service in Duluth.
International Falls, with 111 inches of snow already this winter, is 5 inches away from breaking the record for that city. That's 57 inches more than the normal yearly average, Boulay said. Little Falls, too, is well above its average with 65 inches of snow.
But the real story this winter has been the cold.
Boulay figured this winter will finished in the top third of coldest winters on record.
Not top 10, but definitely colder than what we've seen in recent years, Boulay said.
Gohde said seasonal temperatures in Brainerd have been 5-6 degrees below normal.
A warmer February, with a few days in the 40s, kept this winter's temperature average from dropping lower, Gohde said. February was above normal in both minimum and maximum temps, he said.
It's been kind of a seesaw, but there's been many more below normal temps than anything above normal, Gohde said.
For the record, the average high temperature in December is 23 degrees and the average low is 2 degrees; in January the average high is 19 degrees and the average low is 7 degrees below zero; in February the average high is 26 degrees and the average low is 1 degree below zero; and in March the average high is 38 degrees and the average low is 14 degrees.
This winter season, the average low in December was 4.5 degrees below zero, in January was 15.2 degrees below zero, in February 1.4 degrees and in March 4.2 degrees. The average high in December was 18 degrees, in January 13.9 degrees, in February 27.6 degrees and in March 32.5 degrees.
It seems like a big deal to us now because we've had so many balmy winters recently, Boulay said. With this winter it's a lot like last winter in terms of cold, but only up a notch with the snow. It's more winter-like.
It's been the extremes that have been most impressive the past two years, Gohde said.
During the 2007-2008 winter in Brainerd there were 62 days with a low temperature below zero, including 16 days of at least 20 degrees below zero, and six days with a high temperature below zero.
So far during the 2008-2009 winter, there have been 52 days with a low temperature below zero, including 14 days of at least 20 degrees below zero, and four days with a high temperature below zero.
I'm sure the people who burn wood are noticing that on their wood piles right now, Gohde said.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.