WILLMAR — At 11:15 a.m. Monday the temperature was approximately 14 degrees at the Willmar Municipal Airport, with winds blowing at 20 mph. Factor in the wind chill and it felt like -4 degrees, unseasonably cold for Veterans Day.
Across the state temperatures were far lower than the average highs of the mid-40s for Nov. 11.
The National Weather Service Twin Cities, located in Chanhassen, said record-breaking cold temperatures were imminent Monday, with the mercury rising only to the teens for high temperatures across most of the state. The lowest high on record for the Twin Cities was 18, set in 1986. In St. Cloud the current lowest high on Nov. 11 is 20 degrees, also set in 1986. That might change by the end of the day Monday.
Monday night is expected to be even colder, with lows falling to single digits. Willmar could expect temperatures around 2 degrees, with winds starting at 10 to 15 mph, before slowing later in the night.
Tuesday will continue to be cold, but not as cold as Monday. Sustained winds starting at 5 to 10 mph and then increasing to 10 to 15 mph, with gusts around 25 mph are expected, according to the weather service. Winds will be coming from the south, helping to raise temperatures, but only into the mid-20s.
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The remainder of the week will remain on the chilly side, but should be just above freezing during the day. Wednesday's forecast high is 33, rising to 34 on Thursday and 37 on Friday. By Saturday the high could be nearing 40 degrees.
There is a chance of snow on Wednesday and Saturday. The latter portion of the week should be partly to mostly sunny until Saturday when clouds could return for the weekend.
The weather service said it looks like next week should feel more like mid-November, instead of mid-January.
