Historic Freeze: MN’s Record-Breaking Cold, 30 Years Later

Thirty years ago this month, Minnesota was locked inside a brutal Arctic outbreak that sent temperatures plunging to levels most of us still shudder to remember. That historic cold snap didn’t just break records; it pretty much reshaped the standard for extreme winter weather to this day.

After two wimpy winters in a row, with very little snow to speak of and only a day or two of sub-zero temperatures, Old Man Winter seems to be back with a vengeance in Minnesota so far this year. We've already seen several cold snaps that sent temperatures plunging to double-digits below zero.

The Day Minnesota Made History: Remembering the 1996 Arctic Blast

But even though we *have* seen cold weather this winter, it's nothing compared to the Arctic outbreak that hit Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa 30 years ago during the first few days of February, 1996.

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The National Weather Service (NWS) office in La Crosse notes that a frigid airmass settled over our region that winter, which promptly sent temperatures falling to record levels:

This blast of arctic air set all-time record low temperatures for Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin: Elkader, IA (tied the record at -47 on the 3rd); Courderay, WI (-55 on the 4th); and Tower, MN (-60 on the 4th).

From -60°F in Tower to Bitter Cold Lows in Rochester

According to the Minnesota DNR, the air mass that produced the record low at Tower 30 years ago also produced bitterly cold temperatures across the rest of Minnesota.  Here in Rochester, NWS reported that temperatures hit -35 overnight on February 2, 1996, and only rose to -20 for the high that day!

And that was after an overnight low of -27 on February 1, 1996, along with lows of -30 on February 3rd and -24 on February 4th of that year. Temperatures in Rochester finally warmed up to 1 above later that afternoon on February 4, 1996.

How Minnesota’s Coldest Days Compare to National Records

While we're proud of our ability to withstand such ridiculously cold weather, Minnesota doesn't hold the record for the coldest temperature in the U.S., though. The DNR says the national record is -80°F, set at Prospect Creek, Alaska. Even here in the lower 48 states, Montana (-70 F), Wyoming (-66 F), and Colorado (-61 F) have all recorded colder record lows than Minnesota.

Part of the reason we're able to withstand such bone-chilling cold temperatures is the fact that Minnesotans know what to do to keep warm-- and also what NOT to do. Keep scrolling to check out 13 Things You Should NEVER Do When It's Below Zero in Minnesota, as well as the Most Extreme Temperatures Ever Recorded in Every State!