Stay smart about the cold

“The area has seen below-normal temperatures since Dec. 5 and it has been all downhill from there,” Mike Stewart, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Duluth, said Monday of the cold air. “Temperatures will start to ease up Tuesday and into Wednesday, which has a high of 19 degrees. We’ll have a small break from the really cold air, but we’ll be right back into it by the weekend.”

The culprit of the cold snap in the middle of December is a weather pattern stretching down from northern Canada, Stewart explained. He said the air flow has allowed northern Minnesota to tap into the arctic air making December’s thermometer readings similar to what is seen in January.

“There has been no sun up (in northern Canada) and a pool of cold weather has built up and swept down to us,” he said. “(International Falls) has had weather like this at the beginning of December before, but it’s been awhile...at least 15 years.”

In fact, the meteorologist said at the halfway point through the month, Borderland is 16.3 degrees below the normal monthly temperature. The last time the area experienced 11 consecutive days of below-zero temperatures was in January of 2003.

“It’s going to stay cold,” Stewart added. “Be prepared for at least another week of very cold weather.”

Accurate forecasting

As temperatures plunge across the state, Sen. Amy Klobuchar has been advocating for funding to help ensure accurate weather forecasting that is vital to saving lives.

At a commerce subcommittee hearing, which Klobuchar started out by announcing the current temperature in International Falls, she discussed the need to strengthen and modernize the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to ensure they can make timely and accurate forecasts.

“In a state like Minnesota where winters can drop well below freezing, accurate weather forecasts aren’t just a matter of convenience – they’re a matter of life and death,” Klobuchar said in a release. “It’s absolutely critical that organizations like the National Weather Service and NOAA have the tools and resources they need to do their job and minimize the impact of severe weather.”

During the hearing, Alaska Sen. Mark Begich – whose father grew up in Minnesota – noted last week it was colder in northern Minnesota than it was above the Arctic Circle.

Stay prepared

Stewart said with more cold air on the way, people need to “be smart” when venturing outdoors.

“Dress in layers,” he said. “Make sure exposed skin is covered...Frostbite in these temperatures can occur in as little as 15-20 minutes, especially in the face. Seek shelter if you start getting cold.”

Just recently, a 19-year-old University of Minnesota freshman was found dead along the Mississippi River. Police suspect he may have frozen to death. In Duluth, another 19-year-old University of Minnesota Duluth student nearly froze to death after falling asleep on a neighbor’s porch following a night of heavy drinking with friends. The student could lose limbs as a result of frostbite.

“Watch out for others in the cold,” Stewart said. “If you’re out partying, make sure your friends get inside. In Minnesota, we are used to cold weather, but it can still be a problem.”

The meteorologist also urged motorists to carry a winter survival kit in their vehicles. Among other items, he said the kit should for sure include a blanket, energy bars, matches or a lighter and a shovel.

“We need people to stay prepared for the cold and snow,” he said. “This is Minnesota. Winter is going to stick around for awhile.”