24-hour temperature changes were about 40 to 50 degrees across much of Minnesota on Tuesday, January 29. Some of the largest calendar day changes occurred in southeast Minnesota where the warm air was still in place just after midnight on the 29th. At La Crosse, the temperature dropped 53 degrees from a high temperature from 43 degrees at 2:03am to -10 at 11:43pm. This tied the all time record of the largest temperature change in a calendar day. Rochester had a drop of 52 degrees and this was good enough for a three way tie for the 6th largest calender day temperature change.
Large swings of temperatures are part of Minnesota's climate. For instance, a 30 degree temperature change in a calendar day in the Twin Cities is fairly common, happening many times in the historical record. Somewhat less common are swings of 45 degrees or greater. These happen about once in a decade with the last 45 degree temperature change in a calendar day happening on April 18, 1985. The Twin Cities had a drop of 49 degrees on January 29 and this tied for the second largest temperature change from midnight to midnight. The record in the Twin Cities is 51 degrees on December 26, 1903. The temperature was -14 in the morning and rose to the low 30's in only 12 hours.
The largest 24 hour temperature change in Minnesota was 71 degrees on April 3, 1982 in Lamberton located in Redwood County. The high was 78 degrees and a vigorous cold front dropped the temperature to 7.
Largest Temperature Changes in a Calendar Day for the Twin Cities 1891-2008
Rank Year Month Day Precip Tmax Tmin change
1. 1903 12 26 0.00 34 -17 51
2. 1895 1 10 0.01 23 -26 49
1967 12 21 0.00 51 2 49
2008 1 29 0.00 36 -13 49
5. 1913 3 2 0.01 31 -17 48
6. 1963 3 30 0.00 77 30 47
1963 4 14 0.00 73 26 47
8. 1891 1 13 0.00 48 2 46
1917 12 27 0.10 27 -19 46
10. 1892 3 9 0.45 45 0 45
1900 2 8 0.00 30 -15 45
1911 1 10 0.00 41 -4 45
1911 3 14 0.00 60 15 45
1962 9 11 0.00 80 35 45
1985 4 18 0.00 89 44 45
Below is more information for Rochester and La Crosse. Courtesy the La Crosse National Weather Service.
Temperature Drop on Tuesday Ties Record at La Crosse (6th Largest at Rochester)
An arctic cold front brought near record and record calendar day temperature changes
to the area on Tuesday, January 30th. At La Crosse, the temperature plunged 53
degrees from a high temperature of 43 degrees at 2:03 AM to a low temperature
of -10 degrees at 11:43 PM Tuesday. This ties the all-time record of the
largest temperature change during a calendar day in the history of La
Crosse weather records. The last time time this occurred was on February 17, 1874.
In Rochester, a similar temperature drop of 52 degrees was officially recorded.
Their high temperature of 40 degrees occurred at 1201 AM and their low
temperature of -12 degrees occurred at 11:13 PM. This is the 6th largest
calendar day drop tied with several other dates.
The tables below provide the top ten calendar day temperature changes
in both Rochester MN and La Crosse WI.
Rochester MN...
Largest Temperature
Changes in a Calendar Day
in Rochester MN
1883 to 2008
Temperature
Rank Date Change
---- ---- -----------
1 May 5 1909 58 degrees (High 90 Low 32)
2 February 12 1939 56 degrees (High 38 Low -18)
3 February 26 1940 55 degrees (High 27 Low -28)
4 February 11 1934 54 degrees (High 34 Low -21)
5 October 18 1939 53 degrees (High 73 Low 20)
6 January 20 1937 52 degrees (High 32 Low -20)
February 23 1918 52 degrees (High 52 Low 0)
January 29 2008 52 degrees (High 40 Low -12)
9 December 24 1949 51 degrees (High 34 Low -17)
10 February 27 1935 50 degrees (High 28 Low -22)
January 18 1996 50 degrees (High 45 Low - 5)
March 20 1934 50 degrees (High 69 Low 19)
May 2 1918 50 degrees (High 78 Low 28)
La Crosse WI...
Largest Temperature
Changes in a Calendar Day
in La Crosse WI
1872 to 2008
Temperature
Rank Date Change
---- ---- -----------
1 January 29 2008 53 degrees (High 43 Low -10)
February 17 1874 53 degrees (High 42 Low -11)
3 March 27 1921 51 degrees (High 67 Low 16)
4 January 28 1934 49 degrees (High 41 Low - 8)
5 January 18 1996 48 degrees (High 50 Low 2)
6 January 10 1980 48 degrees (High 46 Low - 2)
7 February 1 1976 47 degrees (High 37 Low -10)
February 16 1921 47 degrees (High 60 Low 13)
9 May 16 1997 46 degrees (High 81 Low 35)
January 28 1996 46 degrees (High 27 Low -19)
April 3 1995 46 degrees (High 67 Low 21)
April 18 1994 46 degrees (High 87 Low 41)
December 6 1991 46 degrees (High 41 Low - 5)
December 13 1926 46 degrees (High 35 Low -11)
December 5 1880 46 degrees (High 41 Low - 5)