-32! Wednesday’s temps shatter record

By Lauren Radomski (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Thursday, February 21, 2008

Wednesday was a record-setting day in Fergus Falls and other parts of Otter Tail County, where temperatures fell into the minus 30s.

Vince Godon, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Forks, said Devils Lake, N.D. experienced the regions lowest temperature Wednesday, bottoming out at 34-below.

In Fergus Falls, Wednesday’s low was 32-below, the coldest temperature for Feb. 20 since -18 was recorded in 1963.

Chilly temperatures meant brisk business for groups like Beyer Towing.

“We are busy,” said owner Paul Beyer. “Actually, the last two months have been pretty busy but the past two days have been worse.”

Beyer estimated wreckers received 20-some calls for jumps Wednesday, with many cars requiring a ride inside.

“Many of them don’t run and you have to haul them to a garage,” he said. “By the time we get there, they’re all goofed up and the only way they’ll start is if they warm up.”

Beyer Towing has also received several calls from semis passing through the area. Many are transporting produce from southern states, Beyer said, with thick fuel that freezes in colder temperatures.

Last week’s drifting snow brought Beyer employees out to ditches along the Interstate, where Beyer said drivers don’t pay enough attention to emergency and towing vehicles.

“People plain and simple are going too fast,” he said. “That’s our biggest problem. When we’re working out there, they’re speeding past us at 80 mph.”

Looking to the rest of the week, Godon said Otter Tail County can expect warmer temperatures, beginning with a high of 10 degrees in Fergus Falls Thursday.

“Actually, we’re looking at a little bit of a warming trend going into the weekend,” he said. “We’ll see highs in the upper 20s, lower 30s, which will feel like a heat wave compared to the temperatures we’ve seen.”