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Ask a Climatologist

Question

Can you please explain why it does not get dark until 9 pm in Minnesota? I just returned from a visit to Eagan, and was shocked. In Los Angeles it gets dark by 8:l5 or so - I would love to hear the reasoning! Thanks!

Answer

During the summer months, the earth's axis is tilted towards the sun. The further north we go, the longer are the daylight hours. The "Land of the Midnight Sun" is anything north of the Arctic Circle (66 1/2 degrees N). Unfortunately for those of us in the northern latitudes, the reverse is true during the winter.


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Weather and Forecast

 

Currently in Minneapolis

Friday, July 4, 2008 7:00:00 AM CDT
weather icon

mostly sunny

62° (17C)


Humidity: 72%
Dew point: 53° F
Winds: Calm at mph
Barometer: 30.11 and Rising

Hennepin County Forecast

Today: mostly sunny. highs around 80. south winds 10 mph.


Tonight: clear. lows 55 to 60. south winds 10 mph.


Saturday: mostly sunny. highs around 85. south winds 5 to 15 mph.


Updated Friday, July 4, 2008 3:58:00 AM CDT

Almanac


For Minneapolis on July 4

Temperatures (° F)

 

High

Low

Average:

84°

62°

Record:

100° (1949)

43° (1972)

Precipitation

Most

Largest snowfall

2.27" 1900

0.0" 1949

On this day in 1962: Downpour at Jackson. They got 7 and-a-half inches of rain in two hours.



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