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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Rochester came close this morning to tying the record for the coldest low temperature on February 7th.

The unofficial low temperature reported by the National Weather Service at the Rochester Airport was 20 below zero between 6 and 7 AM. The current record for the date is -21, which was set in 1972. The wind chill readings early this morning were a little over 40-degrees below zero in the Rochester area. It was the coldest it has been in Rochester since February 14 of last year when the mercury bottomed out at a record low -24-degrees.

In southeastern Minnesota, it appears Zumbrota was the cold spot with a morning low of 23 below zero. Red Wing hit -22 and Preston reported a low of -21.

Lows in the teens to around 20 below zero were common across Minnesota, while many communities north of the Twin Cities saw the mercury dip into the minus mid-20s. It appears the coldest spot in Minnesota was the town of Cotton, about 30 miles north of Duluth, which saw a morning low of 35-degrees below zero. Ely reported a low of -34, while both Babbit and Park Rapids dropped to -30 early this morning.

The arctic air mass to blame for the frigid weather is forecast to remain in place into next weekend. The National Weather Service says the Rochester area can expect sub-zero cold every night this week with high temperatures most days in the single-digits above zero and a few days when the mercury may not even reach zero degrees.

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