News Archives - 2007

We are sitting right in the middle of the coldest weeks of the year in Minnesota.

Traditionally, the end of January and the beginning of February is when the thermometer dips the lowest, and with forecasts for the coming days barely creeping above 0°, this year is holding true to form.

So, is hope on the way? Augsburg Assistant Professor and meteorology instructor David Venne thinks so. “The middle of February is when people start perceiving it getting warmer,” he says.

We live in Minnesota. We know it is coming. Why do we get so bent out of shape? Professor Venne explains: “If the weather was average, rather than coming at us in fits and starts, which is what weather does, it would have less of an impact on us. But when it suddenly falls below 0, we have no time to adapt.”

So does that mean we hold up inside for the week? Not necessarily. Just take the necessary precautions of keeping exposed flesh covered and keep outdoors time to a minimum. And wear a hat. Most of your body heat escapes through your head.

Remember, it could be worse. Today marks the 11th anniversary of the coldest temperature ever recorded in Minnesota: -60° in 1996 in Tower.

Visit the National Weather Service site at www.nws.noaa.gov/ for current forecasts.