Dramatic 61-degree apparent temperature contrast across Minnesota Wednesday

The temperature map across Minnesota Wednesday tells a tale of very different air masses.

The warmest air mass of the year so far is blowing across southern Minnesota. Temperatures have hit 80 degrees along the Interstate 90 corridor in southern Minnesota.

Meanwhile, in Grand Marais along Minnesota’s North Shore, the air temperature hovered at 28 degrees this afternoon, with a wind chill of 19 degrees.

So, when you factor in the apparent or “feels like’ temperature, it feels 61 degrees warmer today across southern Minnesota than Grand Marais!

The geography of extremes

One look at today’s temperature map shows you how great the contrast in air masses is across the Upper Midwest.

There’s a reason these huge temperature contrasts happen most often in springtime. Minnesota sits in an ideal location for big temperature contrasts this time of year. Air masses to the south are in the process of heating up. Our higher spring sun angle and solar intensity are now equal to Aug. 20. That heats up air masses blowing north into Minnesota.

At the same time, Lake Superior is still frigid with water temperatures in the 30s. That modifies air masses along the North Shore toward the opposite extreme.

They say all weather is local. That’s especially true in Minnesota on spring days like this.