The official National Weather Service thermometer at Duluth International Airport finally crawled above zero at about 1:30 this afternoon, the first time it had been positive territory since about 8 p.m. Monday.
The warm-up ended a nearly 90-hour stretch below zero, far from a record but more than enough for cold-weary Northlanders.
The punishing cold week saw daily low temperature records set at International Falls, a reading of 47 below zero in Embarrass and four days of 20 below zero or worse across Duluth and most of the Northland.
Coupled with biting winds, the cold temperatures were enough to cancel school across much of the region Thursday and today.
The warm-up came fast today, after a morning that was nearly the coldest day of the week. Temperatures dropped to 46 below in Embarrass this morning, 41 below in International Falls and 23 below in Duluth before moving up.
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Now, a January Thaw or near thaw is expected, with temperatures into the 20s above zero by Sunday and near or above freezing by Tuesday and Wednesday.
A couple of inches of snow are possible tonight.
Don't sell your longjohns, though. Another blast of polar air will descend on the region just in time for next weekend.
