The climate of Minnesota is typical of a continental climate, with cold
winters and hot summers. Minnesota's location in the Upper Midwest
allows it to experience some of the widest variety of weather in the
United States. Winter in Minnesota is characterized by cold
temperatures as low as −60 °F (−51 °C). Snow is the main form of winter
precipitation, but freezing rain, ice, sleet, and occasionally rain are
all possible during the winter months. Common storm systems include
Alberta clippers or Panhandle hooks, some of which evolve into
blizzards. Annual snowfall extremes have ranged from over 170 inches
(432 cm) in the rugged Superior Highlands of the North Shore to as
little as 10 inches (25 cm) in southern Minnesota. Spring is a time of
major transition; snowstorms are common early, but by late spring as
temperatures begin to moderate the state experiences tornadoes,
averaging 24 per year. In summer, humid conditions help kick off
thunderstorm activity 30–40 days per year. Summer high temperatures as
hot as 114 °F (46 °C) are possible. Autumn weather in Minnesota is
largely the reverse of spring weather; the jet stream—which tends to
weaken in summer—begins to re-strengthen, leading to a quicker changing
of weather patterns and an increased variability of temperatures. By
late October and November these storm systems become strong enough to
form major winter storms.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Minnesota>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1918:
The Council of Lithuania signed the Act of Independence of Lithuania,
proclaiming the restoration of an independent Lithuania governed by
democratic principles, despite the presence of German troops in the
country during World War I.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Independence_of_Lithuania>
1923:
English archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter unsealed the
burial chamber of Tutankhamun , an Egyptian Pharaoh of the Eighteenth
dynasty.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutankhamun>
1961:
The DuSable Museum, the first museum dedicated to the study and
conservation of African American history, culture, and art, was
chartered.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuSable_Museum_of_African_American_History>
1977:
Archbishop Janani Luwum of the Church of Uganda, a leading voice
against the regime of Idi Amin, was arrested for treason and murdered
the next day.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janani_Luwum>
1985:
"The Hizballah Program" was released, describing the ideology and goals
of the Shia Islamic political and paramilitary organization Hizballah.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideology_of_Hezbollah>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
balanephagous (adj):
[[acorn
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/balanephagous>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
What one knows is, in youth, of little moment; they know enough who
know how to learn.
--Henry Adams
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henry_Adams>