Farewell wondrous

warmth of November, Hello winter weather

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- An approaching winter snow storm is blowing away what was the second-warmest November on record.

If it makes you feel nice and warm, here's a recap.

A high temperature record was set Nov. 5 in New Ulm and St. James when the temperature reached 73 degrees. It was 75 that day in Redwood Falls, tying a record and 72 degrees in Mankato, another record.

Two days later, records were set in Redwood Falls, St. James and Olivia when the thermometer hit 73 degrees and 75 in Mankato.

The all-time high of 83 degrees was set on Nov. 1, 1950, in New Ulm and Nov. 9, 1999, in Springfield.

The first week of November averaged nearly 15 degrees above normal and was the second-warmest in history (since 1891).

The average temperature for the first week averaged 54.2 degrees, second only to 1975 when it averaged 54.7.

Remember 1975? That was the year the ore ship Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a severe storm on Lake Superior. Her entire crew died, and the ship remains at the bottom of the lake. The sinking led to Gordon Lightfoot's ballad about it.

The second half of November 1975 featured 16.2 inches of snow in the Twin Cities.

Trivia question: What is the cloudiest month of the year in the Twin Cities?

Contrary to 2001 figures, November averaged 18-19 cloudy days and the least number of clear days, 5. December figures are very close to November.

November 2001 set records for the most 50-degree (17) and 60-degree (12) maximum temperatures and the most 60-degree temperature days in November in a row, (7).

While November 2001 was unusual, it pales in comparison to significant Minnesota weather events of the 20th century. Members of Minnesota's climate community selected the five most significant Minnesota weather or weather-driven events of the 20th century:

1. The 1930s Dust Bowl

2. 1940 Armistice Day blizzard

3. 1991 Halloween blizzard

4. 1997 Red & Minnesota River flooding

5. (tie) 1965 Fridley tornado and 1965 Mississippi & Minnesota River flooding.

Roseville meteorologist Bruce F. Watson, nearly 70 years old, has been studying Minnesota weather most of his life. He spent much of his time reading newspapers and weather bureau articles.

Here are the top 14 weather events of the 20th century, according to Watson:

1. Great Fridley and suburban tornadoes, May 5, 1965

2. Halloween blizzard, statewide, Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 1991

3. Armistice Day storm, statewide, Nov. 11-12, 1940

4. Line squall of the century, Winona, June 21, 1919

5. Tornado of the century, Fergus Falls, June 21, 1919

6. Downtown tornadoes, Minneapolis, Aug. 20, 1904

7. Tornadic cyclone and drought of the century, Minnesota, Wisconsin, July 15, 1980

8. Dust storm and drought of the century, statewide, May 9-10, 1934

9. Great St. Peter, Comfrey tornado, March 29, 1998

10. Heaviest-ever Twin City snow, Jan. 20-23, 1982

11. Surprise ground blizzard, statewide, Feb. 2-5, 1984

12. Rains of the century, Bloomington, July 20-21, 23-24, 1987

13. Great Ides of March blizzard, statewide, March 15, 1941

14. Big midsummer hard freeze, July 11, 1903