The 2016 meteorological autumn (September-November) tied 1963 for Minnesota's warmest on record, with an average temperature of 49.7 degrees. Many stations recorded below-normal temperatures on just 10-15 of the 91 days. The warm stretch included the latest 32 degree reading on record in the Twin Cities, along with some November daily highs 70s around the state.
The record-tying warmth followed an almost equally-warm autumn in 2015, which now ranks third all-time. That exceptional warmth included 11 days in the 80s during September, and also some November high temperatures into the 70s at many Minnesota stations.
Across the state, autumn temperatures have been increasing at a faster rate in recent decades than spring, summer, and annual averages. As shown in the table below, the past three decades contain the majority of the warmest autumn seasons on record in Minnesota, back to 1895.
Top Ten Warmest Autumns Statewide for Minnesota
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Year Temp
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1. 1963 49.7
2016 49.7 (tie)
3. 2015 49.5
4. 1931 48.7
5. 2004 47.6
6. 1953 47.5
2001 47.5
8. 1994 47.3
1998 47.3
10. 1922 47.2
2005 47.2
By: Graunke and Blumenfeld