Cold to continue this week
Temperatures Saturday and Sunday set a couple of new records for Jan. 2 and 3, but the cold Arctic airs that Borderland folks will continue to feel through the week are pretty standard, according to Kevin Donofrio, meteorologist for the National Weather Service, Duluth.
The cold snap arrived the evening of Dec. 27, on the heels of the area’s snowiest Christmas ever. Following just a slight break in the frigid temps, Dec. 28 and 29 saw lows of minus 22 and 20 degrees. Dec. 30 temperatures hovered a bit above that, but fingers and toes were still feeling the shock.
Although some local thermometers reportedly showed minus 40 degrees and colder over the weekend, the lowest reading recorded by the NWS was early Saturday at the automated censor near the Falls International Airport. It showed a new record of 38 degrees below zero. Sunday saw 37 degrees below zero, also a record breaker for that date in Borderland. Highs on those days never climbed above zero. The air on New Year’s Day dipped to 34 degrees below zero.
Previously, the coldest Borderland temperature on record for Jan. 3 was set nearly a century ago in 1911 at 37 degrees below zero. The previously set record for Jan. 2 was minus 34 degrees in 1979.
“It’s fairly common for dense, arctic air to set in (in) January,” Donofrio said. “It always seems harsh, but our records show it’s pretty common for this time of year.”
The forecast for this week is continued cold weather, Donofrio said. Today calls for possible above-zero air and some clouds, he added. But as she often does, Mother Nature will bring sunny skies intermittently with the cold air, and there is no snow in the forecast this week.
“Cold air kicks it (snow) away,” Donofrio told The Journal. He noted that mitigating Pacific air flows next week could bring temperatures into the above teens.
Power lines and the weather
North Star Electric Cooperative reports a Saturday line outage west of Loman affecting about 25 members for about two hours until 9:16 a.m. The cause was a broken conductor which snapped due to the extreme cold, said Ann Ellis of North Star.
As for electric load control for off-peak accounts, Ellis reported that there was minimal load control for off-peak users over the weekend because inexpensive power was normally available on the market to supplement Minnkota Power Cooperative’s base-load generation. “The wind generally blows when our peaks are low, which is the case as we speak,” Ellis told The Journal. “There is basically no wind power available this frigid morning.”
Ellis explained that off-peak loads are controlled (members’ electric supply is stopped) only to measure billing peaks; to certify the cooperative’s ability to shed off-peak loads; and when demand exceeds its base-load generation.
“When the demand is high, we are often able to purchase reasonably priced excess power. The coal-fired, base-load generation plants are at full capacity,” Ellis continued. “We anticipate this to continue through the week, seeing load control during only morning and evening peaks.”
Ellis noted that specific customer questions regarding off-peak usage and billing was included in the mailed North Star billing statements for December.
Minnesota Power
Amy Rutledge, communications manager for Minnesota Power reported no outages in this area over the cold weekend. Customers experiencing an outage may call 800-30-POWER, or 800-307-6937, Rutledge said. Outages may also be reported online at www.mnpower.com.
Rutledge issued these customer reminders in case of a power outage:
• Keep at least one flashlight, a battery-powered radio and extra batteries in an accessible place.
• Use candles or camping lanterns with caution.
• For fireplaces, keep matches and firewood handy to build a fire to keep warm.
• Turn off all televisions, computers, stoves, microwave ovens, stereo equipment and other appliances — except refrigerators and freezers.
• Leave on at least one light to know when power has been restored.
• CAUTION: If standby generators are used, it must be isolated from electric lines feeding into the home. During an outage, the electric energy from the generator could back feed into the power line and seriously injure or kill a line worker trying to restore power to the residence.
In the case of a long outage, common sense is required, Rutledge said. “If there are small children or the elderly in the residence, think about going to another place.”
Rutledge assures the public that in cases of outage, Minnesota Power has crews working around the clock to restore power as quickly as possible.
