The Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt takes place in what is traditionally some of the coldest weather of the year. But this is Minnesota, a place where Mother Nature is not always, shall we say, consistent.
While the average temperature for the Twin Cities during the hunt is in the teens, and several inches of snow are typically on the ground, conditions have varied greatly over the past 60 years, with temperatures deviating by 73 degrees and snow depth ranging from nearly 2 feet to nothing at all.
Whether it’s a spring-like hunt, hat-and-gloves hunt or cursing-the-medallion-ever-existed-as- frozen-tears-of-frustration-hang-from-their-faces-in-icicles hunt, treasure seekers take to Ramsey County’s public land each year in search of fame and fortune.
Here are some statistics about what they faced:
TEMPERATURES DURING THE HUNT
Warmest temperature during the hunt: 48 degrees (Jan. 26, 2006, and Jan. 30, 1989)
Coldest temperature during the hunt: -25 degrees (Feb. 1, 1996 and Jan. 31, 1994)
Percentage of years that reached 40 degrees: 18
Percentage of years that fell below zero degrees: 67
Year with warmest temperature on average: 1954 (30.1 degrees)
Year with coldest temperature on average: 1982 (-2.9 degrees)
Longest stretch of subzero high temperatures: 3 days (1989, 1982)
Average temperature during the hunt: 13.33 degrees
SNOW DEPTH ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE HUNT
Year with most snow: 1969 (22 inches)
Number of years with a foot or more of snow: 13
Average snow depth: 7.17 inches
Number of years with no snow: 3
Copyright 2012 Pioneer Press.
