Sunny skies over a snow-free landscape led to one of the most remarkable February heat waves on record.
The heat wave began on Friday, February 17, as mild winds from the south and southwest caused temperatures to soar. The Twin Cities reached 63 degrees, which set a daily record and was tied for the second warmest February day on record. Even 5,000 feet above the ground temperatures were near 60 degrees. Over the next several days, temperatures rose repeatedly to record or near-record levels across the state, with 50s and 60s common. On Monday February 20, much of Minnesota saw a steady, spring-like rain, with many locations recording a half-inch of rain or more. Muggy conditions accompanied the rain, and the 52-degree dew point temperature in the Twin Cities was the highest value ever recorded that early in the season.
The heat wave broke numerous daily high temperature records across the state, as well as many "high minimum" records. On February 20th the National Weather Service volunteer observer at Marshall recorded a low temperature of 52 degrees, which was the highest minimum ever recorded during February in Minnesota, beating out the old value of of 50 degrees at Tracy in 1948.
One record that was not broken was the statewide record high for the month of February. This still stands at 73 degrees, observed at Pleasant Mound in Blue Earth County in 1896.
The heat wave was broken on February 23, with the approach of a snow storm and a return to winter for southern Minnesota.
Below are some past February temperature records and records set in 2017.
Maximum Temperature Records
February 17
Location Old Year New Year
Record Record
----------------------------------------------
Twin Cities 55 1981 63 2017
St. Cloud 54 1981 59 2017
Rochester 63 1981 ---
La Crosse 64 1981 ---
Duluth 52 1981 52 2017 (Tie)
Internat Falls 52 1907 58 2017 (all time Feb rec tied with 2000)
Maximum Temperature Records
February 18
Location Old Year New Year
Record Record
----------------------------------------------
Twin Cities 58 1981 58 2017 (Tie)
St. Cloud 54 1981 57 2017
Rochester 60 1981 ---
La Crosse 64 1981 ---
Duluth 53 1981 ---
Internat Falls 49 1954 51 2017
Maximum Temperature Records
February 19
Location Old Year New Year
Record Record
----------------------------------------------
Twin Cities 57 1981 59 2017
St. Cloud 56 1981 58 2017
Rochester 59 1930 ---
La Crosse 59 1930 65 2017 (all time Feb rec tied)
Duluth 51 1930 ---
Internat Falls 47 1994 ---
Maximum Temperature Records
February 20
Location Old Year New Year
Record Record
----------------------------------------------
Twin Cities 57 1981 ---
St. Cloud 57 1981 ---
Rochester 60 1930 ---
La Crosse 61 1930 ---
Duluth 54 1877 ---
Internat Falls 48 1990 ---
Maximum Temperature Records
February 21
Location Old Year New Year
Record Record
----------------------------------------------
Twin Cities 59 1981 62 2017
St. Cloud 55 1961 56 2017
Rochester 60 1930 ---
La Crosse 64 1930 ---
Duluth 57 1877 ---
Internat Falls 50 2000 ---
Maximum Temperature Records
February 22
Location Old Year New Year
Record Record
----------------------------------------------
Twin Cities 57 1930 57 2017 (Tie)
St. Cloud 55 1961 55 2017 (Tie)
Rochester 59 1930 ---
La Crosse 62 1984 ---
Duluth 52 1961 ---
Internat Falls 58 2000 ---