Months Early: Northern Minn., Wis. Could See Frost

HOLLY NOTE: Five weeks ago, we received reports from folks in Alaska that snow was already falling and a friend in northern Calif. shared that nighttime frost started three weeks ago. It looks like the Farmers' Almanac prediction of a brutal, "catastrophic" winter could be on target. This would be a good time to start winter preps. Caulk around windows and doors and add extra insulation. Make sure to service your generator and is ready to go. Look into wood burning and pellet stoves before the rush is on. With rising fuel costs, you can bet the run for these heaters will start earlier than usual. For the last 3 winters, changeovers to stoves backlogged dealers for several months. If you do put in a pellet stove be sure to get a back up battery pack if you don't have a generator. Pellet stoves' blowers require electricity. If you don't know how to pick, maintain and run a generator, see this information.

August 24, 2008
By Holly J. Andres, Staff Writer
Contra Costa Times - Walnut Creek, CA

DULUTH, Minn.

Here's some news you probably hoped you wouldn't hear for another four months.

The National Weather Service says areas of northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin could see patchy frost this weekend. That's right, patchy frost in August.

The weather agency says clear skies could allow temperatures to dip into the low to mid-30s late Sunday night into early Monday morning.

Meteorologist Roman Berdes (BUR'-dis) says an unusual cold-air mass from Canada will bring lower temperatures, but warmer air from the central Midwest should replace it by Monday.

Berdes says these temperatures are uncommon but not unheard of. He says those areas saw temperatures in the 20s at this point in 2004.

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On the Net:

National Weather Service's Duluth office: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dlh/

Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press.

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