Polar vortex 2019 brings -90 RealFeel Temperatures!
The polar vortex is back and has left in its wake extreme winter cold. NASA has a great high-resolution image showing it punching into the U.S., as well as an animation (bottom).
AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures fell as low as -90 F in Canada, and -83 in the U.S. this week as extremely cold air moved down from the North Pole into the northeastern U.S. It had never (on record) been colder than it was in Illinois this morning, with -38 at Mt. Carroll (a new state record subject to official investigation by NOAA). Actual temperatures in Minnesota fell to -56.
I've been working at AccuWeather for 21 years and I'm not sure I've ever seen RealFeel readings this cold, especially over such a wide area. These purple "Barney" maps made the rounds on the Internet as residents got hyped for the extreme cold.
A complete list of records and other notable temperatures is available below, as an image then additional information in a text list.
Saturday -42 at Brimson, MN & Butternut, WI
Sunday -49 at Kabetogama, MN
(Sunday -46 at International Falls, MN)
Monday -29 at Pellston, Champion, and Stonington, MI.
Tuesday -33 at Fosston, MN
Wednesday -48 at Norris Camp, MN
(Wednesday -23 at Chicago, IL)
(Thursday -46 at International Falls, MN)
Thursday -56 at Cotton, MN [LOWEST]
-74 @ Mount Washington, NH
(Ponsford, MN: -66 CWOP)
-65 @ Flag Island Ramos, MN
-64 @ Grandrapids Co Airport, MN
-64 @ Chisolm-Hibbing Airport, MN
-64 @ Park Rapids, MN
-64 @ Staples, MN
-64 @ Thief River Falls Reg Airport, MN
-63 @ Bemidji/Beltrami Co Airport, MN
-63 @ Fosston, MN
-63 @ Mahnomen Co Airport, MN
(Ely, MN reading of -70 not valid)
-- Canada:
Baker Lake, NT: -76 [LOWEST]
Rankin Inlet, NT: -76 [LOWEST]
Chesterfield, NT: -71 (data missing)
Pelle Bay, NT: -72 (data missing)
-83 @ Mount Washington, NH
-77 @ Thief River Falls Reg Airport, MN
-75 @ Grand Forks Intl Airport, ND
-74 @ Benson, MN
-74 @ Windom, MN
-73 @ Crookston (Kirkwood Fld), MN
-73 @ Fergus Falls Muni Airport, MN
-73 @ Glenwood, MN
(Ely, MN reading of -82 not valid)
-- Canada:
Baker Lake, NT: -91 [LOWEST]
Rankin Inlet, NT: -86
Pelle Bay, NT: -80 (data missing)
Chesterfield, NT: -75
