Springtime in Minneapolis

Dana Carmichael

When coming to Minnesota always check the weather forecast. Minnesota’s weather is a bit like a fickle friend, with highs and lows in deep opposition to each other. When the OAH conference begins, the high temperature might be a balmy 47 degrees, which is just about the same as it was on March 29 a hundred years ago. [Or it could be 89 degrees as it was on the first day of the annual meeting when OAH last met in Minneapolis, April 18-21, 1985. —Eds.]  In that case, you might see Minneapolitans in shorts at sidewalk cafes. Alternatively, it might be bitter, as it was in 1969 when we had the lowest “high” ever recorded for that date: –1 degree. In 1958 it snowed 14.7 inches on the last day in March, totaling over 40 inches that month.

Here’s the good news: you don’t really need to go outside at all. There is always a choice. Our forward thinking architects took weather in hand and made skyways (enclosed second-story walkways) through nearly all of downtown. For those more adventuresome types in the crowd who would like to brave the climate, we natives recommend layers of clothing. This allows one to be drawn into the midafternoon sunshine for a walk in the park, while still benefiting from the modern comforts of indoor heating and plumbing. We highly recommend waterproof shoes, a hat, gloves, a decent jacket, and a scarf for fresh air jaunts, just in case.

A local favorite website for weather forecasts is <http://www.kare11.com/weather/>. You can find up-to-date forecasts and also a historical look at Minnesota’s fickle friend, the weather.

Dana Carmichael is a social studies curriculum specialist and educational consultant based in St. Paul, MN.