Macalester CollegeWeather Summary

Written by Tatiana Craine

Tatiana Craine

Hometown

Eden Prairie, MN

Major

English with emphasis on Creative Writing

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It’s often said that people talk about the weather when there’s nothing else to converse about. At Macalester, sometimes it’s the only thing to talk about. Minnesota is a hotbed for out-of-control seasons and weather. The fall months range from hot to temperate to chilly, depending on how long summer chooses to stick around for during the school year. Midway through autumn, the air gets noticeably crisper, and seeing your breath cloud up outside will be a regular occurrence until at least March. Snow follows soon after, and winter in Minnesota blows through full force. Believe everything you’ve heard about this state’s wicked winters because not only will your hair freeze, but little ice crystals will hit your face on the way to class while you navigate icy sidewalks and snow banks. Spring comes after a long-awaited arrival, but it usually teases students with meltdowns followed by snow showers. Snow soon turns to rain, which leads to muddy puddles all over campus, but there’s usually a solid month of good hanging-out-on-the-quad weather for students to enjoy before school ends.

Students should pack for anything and everything. It’s been known to snow on Halloween in Minnesota, but in recent years, the area has also had 60-degree days in November. The weather in Minnesota just can’t seem to make up its mind, but when it does, it comes with a vengeance. Students from warmer climates might want to invest in long underwear and a healthy winter wardrobe equipped with puffy sweaters and down jackets. Though temperatures during the winter months dip below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, the thermometer also soars past 100 degrees in the summertime. Counteracting and beating the weather on a daily basis is an art that involves layering your outfits so you can peel off or put on items to hit your optimal temperature.