Visitor Information

Four Seasons to Enjoy

If you're visiting here from outside the Midwest, you may be wondering about Minnesota's famous winters. Cocooning types view Minnesota's snowy beauty nestled next to the fireplace while others embrace skating, sledding, snowmobiling, skiing, ice fishing and other winter activities.

Winter can be longer here than in other states: cold temperatures begin in November and can last through March. Any Minnesotan will tell you that temperature alone is meaningless: we pay attention to wind chill (a calculation of how cold it feels on bare skin when the effects of temperature and wind speed are combined). Wind chills can, and do, dip below zero; however, winter days are often sunny.

 

Minnesotans have lots of experience with winter, so don't expect for much to close down after a snowfall. Schools are rarely closed for winter storms, and roads are usually plowed quickly. If it snows at night, major roadways are frequently plowed in time for the morning rush hour. Heated skyways in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, mean visitors can frequently go straight from a warm car to offices, stores, and restaurants without ever stepping outdoors.

Don't forget that we do have three other wonderful seasons! Sandwiched between a long-awaited spring and a colorful autumn is a glorious summer. In an average summer, Twin Cites residents have to contend with only 15 days of 90-degree temperatures and only two or three days above 95 degrees. For a listing of average daily temperatures and average snowfall, click on Land & Climate