January 2020 Sets Record for Cloudy Days
The Minnesota DNR Climatology Office says we’ve had the least amount of solar radiation for a January since records started being kept back in 1963. In the absence of sun, some local residents found a pick-me-up inside a Plymouth tropical fish store.
“Eighteen cloudy days at my observation time in the evening,” said New Hope weather spotter Steve Reckers. “Which is pretty indicative of what it’s been during the day and only six clear days.”
Those are record numbers for January and many folks are getting tired of the gray skies. Reckers says a jet stream from the west with no arctic dips created this cloudy trend.
But Reckers points out things could be worse. We could be in a polar vortex, like we were this time last year.
“A year ago today it was 27 below,” Reckers said. “The high was 2 below that day. A year ago tomorrow 30 below.”
Find a Local Escape
If you are looking to escape the gloom and doom, but can’t afford a trip to a sun-drenched location, check out New Wave Aquaria in Plymouth. Winter is their busiest time of the year.
“We’re kid-friendly obviously,” owner Jen Wanner said. “Let them look around, let them see the fish, let them feel warm. It’s kind of warm and humid and look at all the colors.”
People who love the fish stop by, and often take a few home.
“I think it’s an escape every day,” said Scott Kahler, a fish lover who visits New Wave often. “Not even just winter. I sit in front of my aquarium and let your day go.”
The colorful fish can even play a mind trick on you. Perhaps you’ll think you are somewhere that’s not overcast and gray.
“You don’t have to travel to Indonesia,” said Wanner. “You don’t have to go any of the far extreme oceans to see any of this stuff. Come here and see it, and take it home with you.”
