International Falls, Minn.
weather.com
A look over the Rainy River towards Canada on a brutally cold morning in January 2010 from iWitness Weather contributor bogwoman
Imagine spending more than four days with outdoor temperatures never climbing above zero. That's what residents of International Falls, Minn. have endured this week.
As of late Thursday morning, subzero temperatures have gripped this city along the U.S./Canadian border since around 6 p.m. on Saturday January, 19. That's more than 100 hours in a row with temperatures below zero, capped off by a low of -36 degrees on Thursday morning.
Current Conditions
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International Falls,MN
-6°F
Cloudy
As impressive as this streak may seem, it comes nowhere close to their record longest streak of subzero temperatures.
In 1924, the so-called "Icebox of the Nation" spent 432 consecutive hours, or 18 days, without seeing the mercury in the thermometer rise above zero! While you may think 18 days is some sort of record for the entire lower 48 states, it doesn't come anywhere close.
Langdon, N.D. spent an incredible 41 consecutive days with temperatures below zero from January 11 to February 20 in 1936, according to Christopher Burt of wunderground.com.
Of course, subzero temperatures are no stranger to International Falls, which is one of the coldest cities in America. On average, the city sees 58 days with temperatures below zero each year.
Tuesday Highs
Tuesday Highs
The forecast calls for the current run of subzero temperatures to end on Thursday or Friday. By early next week, highs will head above average into the twenties.
(FORECAST: Int'l Falls)
This will be a part of a large-scale warmup that will take over eastern half of the nation early next week. Our forecast temperature map for Tuesday shows highs in the 60s as far north as Missouri and Illinois. 50s may sneak into Chicago and Detroit.
However, this warmup will not stick around for long as a cold front slices through dropping temperatures back down again a day or so later.
Oymyakon, Russia
A temperature of -52 degrees Celsius (-61.6 degrees Fahrenheit) is measured in Oymyakon, Russia. (Photo credit: Bolot Bochkarev)
