Chilly but no record

REGIONAL— It was chilly but not record-setting on Thursday morning as air temperatures around the area dipped into the minus-40 degree range and colder across the North Country.

Officially, the coldest temperature of the morning was reported from the local National Weather Service observer in Cotton, who posted a minus-53 degree temperature at 6 a.m. The station later posted an even colder temperature, at minus-56 degrees, which tied the reading reported at that location on Sunday, Jan. 27.

The state climatologist had speculated that the state record of minus-60, set in 1996 in Tower, could be challenged Thursday morning under the right conditions. But barring a late report, it appears that Tower's record will remain in place, at least for now.

Other low temperature readings around the area, as reported by the National Weather Service, included:

Kabetogama, minus-50

Celina, minus-47

Brimson, minus-47

International Falls, minus-45

Tower, minus-43

Orr, minus-42

Ely airport, minus-39

Cook, minus-38