Weather From the Hill

Weather From the Hill documents Grand Marais, Minnesota's only official town weatherman, Olaf Thorvaldsen's time on the north shore of Lake Superior. He served as the weatherman in 1926.

April 1, 1926 Weather from the Hill, Olaf Thorvaldsen | Cook County News Herald

Winter seems intent on lingering past its welcome. The coming week will run colder than is customary for early April, with daytime temperatures only narrowly climbing above freezing. Snow is likely next Tuesday and should leave a half-inch cover in town, with deeper totals for those living farther inland.

April 02, 2026

Climatological Data for GRAND MARAIS, MN, April 1926 | NOAA

Climatological data from the Grand Marais, Minnesota weather station from April 1926. Weather data provided by NOAA Regional Climate Centers. Accessed January 1, 2026.

March 28, 2026

March 25, 1926 Weather from the Hill, Olaf Thorvaldsen | Cook County News Herald

Though spring made a brief appearance in the county last Saturday, the coming week will return to colder conditions, with daytime highs remaining below freezing and average temperatures falling below normal. Despite the chill, the days should be marked by sun and generally calm weather through the weekend. By Sunday, however, a system is expected to bring three inches or more of snow, with heavier amounts likely inland.

March 25, 2026

March 18, 1926 Weather from the Hill, Olaf Thorvaldsen | Cook County News Herald

Southwest winds over the coming week will bring a taste of spring to our shore. Daytime highs will reach into the 40s and may approach 50 degrees by the middle of next week. Otherwise, expect mostly blue skies during the day with increasing cloud cover at night.

March 18, 2026

March 1926 | Fins, feather, and fur: The Official Bulletin of the Minnesota Game and Fish Department

Brule Lake Trek Appeals to Many. (1926). Fins, Feather, and Fur: The Official Bulletin of the Minnesota Game and Fish Department, (45), pg 68.

March 13, 2026

March 11, 1926 Weather from the Hill, Olaf Thorvaldsen | Cook County News Herald

Having just returned from the Brule Lake trek with the Minnesota Game and Fish Department, I hurried to consult the tools of my trade to provide a forecast for the coming week. Conditions will turn milder, with temperatures expected to reach 44 degrees by next Thursday. Light snow flurries are likely Monday and Wednesday, leaving just enough fresh cover to hide the debris scattered by last week’s winds. Blowing and drifting snow will continue at times, particularly along the road from town toward Port Arthur.

March 12, 2026

March 4, 1926 Weather from the Hill, Olaf Thorvaldsen | Cook County News Herald

Only last week I remarked that, mild as it has been, March often brings renewed snowfall. That prediction was borne out on the closing days of February, when across the lake at Escanaba, Michigan, the heaviest snowstorm in years brought street car service to a standstill and forced mills and factories to close.

March 05, 2026

Climatological Data for GRAND MARAIS, MN, March 1926 | NOAA

Climatological data from the Grand Marais, Minnesota weather station from March 1926. Weather data provided by NOAA Regional Climate Centers. Accessed January 1, 2026.

February 26, 2026

February 25, 1926 Weather from the Hill, Olaf Thorvaldsen | Cook County News Herald

February closes with temperatures remaining above the seasonal average, while the opening days of March are expected to turn colder. Daytime readings during the coming week should reach into the twenties with generally light winds. In other words, what is considered below normal for March will feel milder than much of February. Winter, however, shows no sign of being finished. The weather records indicate that March commonly brings renewed snowfall, and I expect that pattern will hold this year. There is already a hint of a storm in the air, arriving in time for the Minnesota Game and Fish Department’s annual snowshoe trek.

February 25, 2026

Snow Removal Operations on Good Harbor Hill, Cook County, Minnesota Circa 1920s

Good Harbor Hill is on old Highway 1 northeast of Good Harbor Bay.

February 20, 2026

February 18, 1926 Weather from the Hill, Olaf Thorvaldsen | Cook County News Herald

Stable winter conditions are expected to continue through the coming week, with daytime highs generally in the twenties and nighttime temperatures falling below zero. By next Wednesday, a warm front moving up from the south is expected to bring milder daytime temperatures along with the final measurable snowfall of the month. Approximately two inches of snow are anticipated on Wednesday, which would bring February’s total snowfall in town to 9.2 inches.

February 19, 2026

February 11, 1926 Weather from the Hill, Olaf Thorvaldsen | Cook County News Herald

The coming week will bring continued mild conditions for mid-February. Daytime temperatures are expected to hover near the freezing mark, with Saturday’s high reaching approximately 38 degrees. Snow and mixed precipitation are likely to accompany the warmer air on Saturday, with an estimated inch and a half of accumulation, followed by another inch on Sunday. Inland areas will remain colder and may receive slightly heavier snowfall. The remainder of the week should be clear, with temperatures dropping below zero overnight but moderating during the day.

February 11, 2026

Snow Removal with Caterpillar Tractors (circa 1926)

Example snowplows from 1926.

February 10, 2026

February 4, 1926 Weather From the Hill, Olaf Thorvaldsen | Cook County News Herald

Temperatures over the coming week are expected to remain mild, with Saturday likely to rise above freezing. Much of the week will be above seasonal normal. Sunday is expected to bring several inches of fresh snow. Night temperatures should remain above zero until next Wednesday. Winds will be light, and it should not be long before Lake Superior begins to freeze in earnest.

February 04, 2026

Tuesday, February 2, 1926 WEATHERMAN WINS FAVOR IN GRAND MARAIS | The Duluth Herald

WEATHERMAN WINS FAVOR IN GRAND MARAIS

February 03, 2026

Climatological Data for GRAND MARAIS, MN, February 1926 | NOAA

Climatological data from the Grand Marais, Minnesota weather station from February 1926. Weather data provided by NOAA Regional Climate Centers. Accessed January 1, 2026.

January 30, 2026

January 28, 1926 Weather from the Hill, Olaf Thorvaldsen | Cook County News Herald

The coming week appears set to bring daytime temperatures back into the twenties. Conditions should remain calm but largely overcast, with light snow on most days and heavier amounts expected on Friday and again on the final day of the month. It looks to be the sort of week where the world takes on the appearance of a snow globe. If you have not seen one, a relative newly arrived in this country recently showed me such an object, it’s a small winter scene enclosed in glass, where, when shaken, the snow drifts down and settles again. I am told these may soon be available for purchase here.

January 28, 2026

January 21, 1926 | Cook County News Herald

The coming week is expected to turn colder, with conditions more in keeping with late January. Strong winds are likely on the 24th and into the 25th, accompanied by blowing snow and accumulations of several inches. Travel may be difficult at times, particularly during periods of drifting. High school students walking to school on Monday should take care, as temperatures near 8 degrees, combined with wind, will make conditions severe.

January 21, 2026

Souvenir Lake Superior International Highway Port Arthur, Fort William, Canada and Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.A.

Highway 1 bridge over the Cross River, Minnesota.

January 21, 2026

January 14, 1926 | Cook County News Herald

Last week, our kindly editor allowed me more space than usual, so I will keep things shorter this time. I would like to thank everyone for the dances at the Trading Post. It was good to see the floor put to proper use, and I am still feeling it in my legs.

January 15, 2026

January 7, 1926 | Cook County News Herald

Before turning to the weather, I would like to thank the City of Grand Marais and its residents for the warm welcome and the appointment as town weatherman. I look forward to meeting many of you in the weeks ahead. I plan to attend the Saturday dance at the Trading Post Rustic Room, where, as a gentleman, I will gladly pay the one-dollar admission. I am told that ladies are admitted free. Coincidentally, the annual cost of a subscription to the Cook County News Herald is also one dollar, which seems a fair arrangement all around.

January 07, 2026