Twin Cities in Four Seasons: A Vertical Circle Data Story
Ever wonder just how dramatic the Twin Cities weather can be from year to year? We explored six years’ worth of temperature, precipitation, snowfall, and snow depth data — and visualized it all in an interactive dashboard to uncover meaningful trends. Here's what we discovered
(Click on the twin arrows at the dashboard’s lower right for the full screen experience!)
Hot Summers, Freezing Winters (No Surprise There — or Is It?)
Looking at average maximum and minimum temperatures, the Twin Cities stay true to their four-season reputation:
Avg. High Temp: 57°F
Avg. Low Temp: 39°F
But the real insight comes from how sharply the heatmap changes across months:
June to August light up the map with deep purples, reflecting peak summer heat.
December through February show pale tones, marking the deep freeze.
This strong seasonal contrast isn’t just intuitive — it’s backed by data across all six years
Snowfall is Serious Business
Over the full time period, the Twin Cities saw:
274 inches of total snowfall
A peak snow depth of 16 inches
Heaviest snowfalls landing between November and March
Notably, 2023 stands out with the highest snow accumulation and snow depth — a classic Minnesota winter if there ever was one. In contrast, 2024 and 2025 appear milder, with lighter snow depth and fewer sharp peaks. Whether that’s a trend or a fluke? Only more data will tell.
Rainfall is Modest But Consistent
Precipitation totals reached 156 inches, and most of it came during spring and fall, with lower levels through the summer. The visual patterns show that:
Late fall and early spring bring more moisture — both rain and snow.
July through September tend to be the driest months.
Visualizing It All: Why This Matters
By combining heatmaps, time series, and interactive slicers, we not only made weather data easier to interpret — we made it explorable. Users can:
Switch between metrics (temperature, snow, precipitation)
Drill down by year
Spot clear seasonal trends at a glance
This kind of data storytelling helps make large climate datasets actionable and understandable — whether you’re a researcher, policy planner, or just curious about how wild your local weather really is.
Final Takeaway
The Twin Cities live up to their weather reputation: summers bring the heat, winters bring the snow, and every year tells a slightly different story. But through data, patterns emerge — and they tell us more than just anecdotes ever could.
At Vertical Circle, we believe in bringing data to life in fresh, meaningful ways. Whether it’s weather, finance, manufacturing, or customer behavior — our mission is to turn raw information into insights that spark curiosity, guide decisions, and inspire action.
Stay tuned for more stories, insights, and interactive experiences designed to reveal the unseen and make data work for you.
To learn more, contact us at info@verticalcircle.com or visit verticalcircle.com.