With temperatures in the mid-40s over the weekend, one would have thought Borderland had turned into the South.
It may not have been warm enough for trips to City Beach and flip flops, but for some it did provide a twinge of hope that the prognosticating groundhog Punxsutawney Phil was correct two weeks ago when seeing his shadow denoted for believers an early start to spring.
International Falls’ thermometers reached a high of 46 degrees Sunday, the highest the mercury has risen here on that date according to the NWS. It beat the previous daily record high of 44 degrees set in 1983.
A strong low pressure system sitting just north of Borderland in Canada was responsible for some record-high temperatures Sunday across the northern Minnesota region and the upper Midwest, explained meteorologist Amanda Graning with the National Weather Service.
“It’s an extreme event for this time of year,” she said. Warm air ushered in from the south accounts for the spring-like readings the upper Midwest saw Sunday.
“Lots of energy has to come with that system,” she added, noting that gaining those temperatures with the amount of snow on the ground is unusual. Winds, which gusted to more than 40 miles per hour Sunday night, contributed to the event.
And although temperatures fell Monday, the area is expected to continue with average and above-average temperatures through Thursday, Graning forecasted. For Thursday and Friday, Graning predicted highs in the 20s and lows in the single digits.
By no means do the tempting temperatures mean winter is over for Borderland, Graning said. As it is only February, she said the area could expect to see a return of below-zero lows and more snow. Snowfall of up to a few inches could be seen Thursday night and into Friday, with a changing low pressure system on its way.
The area lost one inch of snow depth, from 24 inches to 23 inches, Sunday due to the warm weather. But many driveways, roofs, streets and other exposed areas melted completely or lost more considerable depth, Graning said.
