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

_______________________________ 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

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

balanephagous (adj): [[acorn http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/balanephagous

___________________________ 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