New year starts out quietly

Well, we can say goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024 as we welcome in the first week of the new year this week. It has been quite the year, weatherwise, as we saw a drought and very little severe weather over the summer months. The two often go hand-in-hand. 

As we all know, this fall and winter have seen unseasonably mild temperatures with very little snow. We did see plenty of rain instead over the Christmas weekend. Locations across eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota have experienced so much rain recently that flooding concerns have been found in Clay and Wilkin counties. This is something that we normally talk about in March, April and May, and not in December and January.

The new year is starting off on a quiet note with not a lot of snow or rain, and temperatures slightly above average. Let’s hope we can get back to “normal” conditions in 2024.

Weather history: On this date in 1981, records show that “Arctic air visits Minnesota.” Embarrass, Minn., dropped to 38 below zero.

Weather facts: Did you know that Arctic air originates over the Arctic region and is very cold? This airmass features cold and dry air. 

MN AT A GLANCE:

Moorhead Low 19 High 24

Duluth Low 26 High 29

Central Minn. Low 20 High 25

Twin Cities Low 27 High 32

Marshall Low 21 High 27

Rochester Low 26 High 31

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 25 Low 14 Wind: NW 10-15 mph Prec. None

Today’s sunrise: 8:03 a.m.

Today’s sunset: 4:48 p.m.

Normal High: 19

Normal Low: 4

It will remain dry for the rest of the week and the upcoming first weekend of 2024. Little moisture is on the horizon at this point. 

Thursday: Partly to mostly cloudy. High 23 Low 12 Wind: WNW 10-15 mph Prec. None

Friday: Partly cloudy and colder. High 18 Low 11 Wind: NW 10-15 mph Prec. None

Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 21 Low 12 Wind: WSW 10-15 mph Prec. None

Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 22 Low 14 Wind: S 10-15 mph Prec. None