Minnesota’s Coldest Temperature Recorded Feb. 2, 1996

Today is not only widely known as Groundhog Day but on this date in 1996 Tower recorded the coldest temperature ever in Minnesota -60 Fahrenheit.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Rogers Pass, Montana on January 20, 1954 had the coldest temperature recorded in the lower 48 states.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in the United States was -80 F at Prospect Creek, Alaska on November 23, 1971.

The thermometer has dipped below zero in all but one of the 50 United States.

Hawaii's record low temperature is 12 F on May 17, 1979 at Mauna Kea Observatory.

Below is a listing of each state's record low temperature:

• Alabama   January 30, 1966                            -27
• Alaska      January 23, 1971                            -80
• Arizona     January  7, 1971                             -40
• Arkansas  February 13, 1905                           -29
• California  January 20, 1937                            -45
• Colorado   February 1, 1985                            -61
• Connecticut  Feb. 16, 1943 and Jan. 22,1961 -32
• Delaware   January 17, 1893                            -17
• Florida        February 13, 1899                          -2
• Georgia       January 27, 1940                          -17
• Hawaii        Jan. 5, 1975 and May 17, 1979      12
• Idaho          January 18, 1943                           -60
• Illinois         January 31, 2019                           -38
• Indiana       January 19, 1994                           -36
• Iowa           Jan. 12, 1912  and Feb. 3, 1996    -47
• Kansas      February 13, 1905                           -40
• Kentucky    January 19, 1994                            -37
• Louisiana   February 13, 1899                           -16
• Maine         January 16, 2009                            -50
• Maryland    January 13, 1912                            -40
• Massechusetts  Jan. 22, 1984                           -40
• Michigan     February 9, 1934                            -51
• Minnesota   February 2, 1996                            -60
• Mississippi  January 30, 1966                           -19
• Missouri      February 13, 1905                         -40
• Montana     January 20, 1954                           -70
• Nebraska    Feb. 12, 1899 and Dec. 22,1989   -47
• Nevada       January 8, 1937                             -50
• New Hampshire  January 22, 1885                   -50
• New Jersey  January 5, 1904                            -34
• New Mexico  February 1, 1951                          -50
• New York     February 18, 1979                         -52
• North Carolina  January 21, 1985                      -34
• North Dakota   February 15, 1936                      -60
• Ohio                February 10, 1899                      -39
• Oklahoma       February 10, 2011                       -31
• Oregon           Feb. 9& 10, 1933                         -54
• Pennsylvania  January 5, 1904                          -42
• Rhode Island   January 17, 1942                       -28
• South Carolina January 21, 1985                       -22
• South Dakota   February 17, 1936                     -58
• Tennessee   December 30, 1917                       -32
• Texas          Feb. 12, 1899 and Feb. 8, 1933     -23
• Utah           February 1, 1985                             -69
• Vermont     December 30, 1933                         -50
• Virginia       January 22, 1985                            -30
• Washington  December 30, 1968                      -48
• West Virginia  December 30, 1917                    -37
• Wisconsin     Feb. 2 &4, 1996                            -55
• Wyoming      February 9, 1933                          -66

Would you have guessed that all but one of the states in the U.S.A. had record low temperatures below 0 ? Or as a hotel clerk in Orlando, Florida once said to me, "Nothing."

It was New Year's Eve and I was getting ready to head back to Faribault.  I phoned back here to get the temperature and told the clerk when she asked what I found out.  I said the temperature was 9 degrees below 0.  Her eyes were as wide as the Grand Canyon and she exclaimed, "Nine below nothing?"

By the way the record low temperature in Orlando was 19 degrees January 28, 1894.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in San Diego was January 7, 1913.  24.9 degrees Fahrenheit.  The night before it was 28.4.

The record low temperature in Houston, Texas was set January 17, 2018.  19 degrees Fahrenheit.

The record low for Miami, Flordia is 30 F on Christmas Day 1989 and January 22, 1985.

San Juan, Puerto Rico had their lowest temperature of 40 F on March 9, 1911 and January 24, 1966.