
http://www.9news.com/news/watercooler/a ... ryid=84426
So, if you ever wonder what people do in the cold climate, we just argue over who is the nations ice box (actually it would be more accurate to say the Lower 48 icebox as places in AK are colder).
Here is my letter to the editor and own opinion:
International Falls is a false claim to Icebox of the Nation (as well an anywhere else in Minnesota) unless the daytime highs in winter are the only criteria. Winter nights in Fraser are still colder and much colder most of the year.
Fraser is far colder overall. Even after the Fraser station was moved to a warmer location, it is still consistently colder. Here are the annual temps for each location mentioned:
International Falls: 36.4F, Fraser: 32.5F/34.6F at station 2 (see article).
Fraser drops below 0 an average of 79 times annually; International Falls 63. But, International Falls is only cold for a few months. In an average year, International Falls will fall below freezing for 109 days. Fraser falls below freezing on an incredible 317 days!
Even more impressive are the average lows for each month. The first figure is for International Falls, and the second Fraser. Notice that in one month out of eleven, International Falls has colder temps than Fraser, but only one month.
JAN International Falls: -8, Fraser: -5
FEB -1/-2
MAR 12/4
APR 27/16
MAY 40/24
JUN 49/29
JUL 54/34
AUG 51/33
SEP 42/25
OCT 32/17
NOV 16/6
DEC -1/-4
Record lows: Fraser also far colder records for most of the year than International Falls. Also notice that while International Falls has dropped below 0 six months of the year, Fraser has done it in nine. Also July has never frozen in International Falls. Fraser has an average frost free period of 4 days, and drops into the teens in every month. Colder in winter than both locations is Taylor Park, Colorado, but Fraser has the longest prolonged cold.
JAN International Falls: -46, Fraser: -53
FEB -45/-49
MAR -38/-39
APR -14/-30
MAY 11/-1
JUN 23/12
JUL 34/18
AUG 30/20
SEP 20/-2
OCT 2/-18
NOV -32/-37
DEC -41/-50
So if your ever in International Falls and they claim to be the Icebox of the Nation, inform them that there are over 100 locations that have reporting weather stations in the Rockies (and even a few in California and one in New Hampshire) that have lower annual temperatures (and that's not mentioning Alaska). Let them know that they may be the Icebox of Minnesota or the Midwest, but not the nation; in fact they're not even close.
So who will win the battle? Cast your votes now.
