REGIONAL— Winter appeared to settle into the North Country at least two weeks early this year as a series of early-season snowfalls, beginning Oct. 17, left the region covered in a blanket of white. At the same time, two weeks of below-normal temperatures prompted ice to begin forming on most area lakes and river.
Temperatures for the last half of October have averaged about ten degrees colder than average, according to Minnesota climate records. Overall, the month has trended about five degrees cooler than average.
The early turn to winter caught many who had hoped to have a couple more weekends to finish up leaf-raking or work on deer stands off guard. While somewhat milder temperatures, forecast for next week, are likely to diminish the snow somewhat, it remains to be seen whether the white stuff is slated to disappear entirely. The extended forecast suggests highs mostly in the thirties after topping out early next week in the mid-to-upper 40s. Colder weather makes a return in the extended forecast in time for the Nov. 7 deer opener.
The return of a dry pattern to the area after a week of snowy weather should increase the odds that the area could still lose its snowcover before the permanent snowpack settles in come November.
The National Climate Prediction Center is forecasting near-average temperatures in the North Country this winter, with above-average snowfall.