A monkey dressed in a pink tutu, which had escaped from a home in Missouri, was captured just before a winter storm approached the area.The spider monkey was seen on Friday afternoon near the intersection of two highways, close to Otto, a town south of St Louis. It had been living at a nearby residence when it managed to slip out after opening a door.

Describing the capture as “bananas,” the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office shared the news on Facebook.

“Shortly before 4 PM on 1/3/25, deputies responded to the area of Highways 21 & M for reports of a subject monkeying around. When they arrived, first-responding units found the subject was naked except for what appeared to be a tutu. After careful negotiations and some coaxing, deputies were able to get close enough to go “hands-on” with the subject and bring this bananas situation under control without incident,” the sheriff’s office wrote on Facebook.

“In all seriousness, this is a great example of law enforcement officers never knowing what they’ll face on any given call and having to be prepared to handle whatever the job throws at them. This spider monkey was staying at a nearby home when it managed to open a door and get outside. Deputies surrounded the animal and eventually got it back to its caretaker. Nice work by everyone involved.”

This incident happened at a very fortunate time. Roads were closed and temperatures dropped as a result of a winter storm that brought snow and ice to the area on Saturday.

The polar vortex, a powerful upper-atmosphere phenomenon that traps cold air near the Arctic, is poised to unleash frigid conditions across the eastern United States. This comes when the vortex weakens and shifts southward, allowing cold, icy Arctic air to descend, setting temperatures close to dangerously low levels. Next week, the country’s eastern half will take the worst brunt, while in some regions temperatures could plunge up to 30 degrees below normal. That will be quite a change from the record warmth set by last year’s winter season. That has made the upcoming severe, extended cold event arrive at most parts of the nation. 

According to CNN, temperatures are shaping up to be the coldest of the winter so far and will be frigid even for what’s already typically the coldest time of the year. The cold will be pervasive-more than 70% of the country’s population will experience freezing temperatures over the next week-and stick around well into the month, increasing chances for snow.

The first push of cold air will come Wednesday for the north-central US, with high temperatures in the single digits or teens expected for parts of Montana, the Dakotas, and Minnesota. Cold air will spread south and east each day for the remainder of the week and through the weekend. The West will largely miss out on any considerable cold, as has been the trend since at least the fall.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued key messages related to climate prediction. “A significant pattern change is expected across much of the country as an Arctic Outbreak is forecast to spread from the Northern Plains to the south and east, leading to exceptionally high probabilities of below-normal temperatures expected across much of the East,” it said.

What is the Polar Vortex?

According to National Weather Service (NWS) of the United States, the polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the Earth’s poles. It ALWAYS exists near the poles, but weakens in summer and strengthens in winter. The term “vortex” refers to the counter-clockwise flow of air that helps keep the colder air near the Poles. Many times during winter in the northern hemisphere, the polar vortex will expand, sending cold air southward with the jet stream (see graphic above). This occurs fairly regularly during wintertime and is often associated with large outbreaks of Arctic air in the United States. The one that occurred January 2014 is similar to many other cold outbreaks that have occurred in the past, including several notable colder outbreaks in 1977, 1982, 1985 and 1989.

Minnesota residents are advised to prepare for a major shift in weather next week, with multiple forecast models predicting a significant rain-to-snow event across the state. Late Monday or early Tuesday is when the system is predicted to arrive, initially bringing rain to a large portion of the state.

However, especially in the central and northern regions, the precipitation is expected to turn to snow as colder air moves in. According to several models, the storm may stall over Lake Superior, causing significant snowfall in these regions.

While the exact track and intensity of the storm are still uncertain, forecasters are urging residents to monitor weather updates closely. It’s advisable to prepare for potential travel disruptions, power outages, and hazardous road conditions.

How Frequently Does Snow Fall in Minnesota?

While winter brings cold temperatures to Minnesota, snowfall days are relatively limited. On average, Minneapolis experiences around 15 snow days each year, while Rochester sees about 16 days. Duluth, known for its more intense winter weather, averages around 25 days of snow annually.

According to KROC News, Minnesota’s weather forecast for Thursday, November 21, predicts scattered snow showers in Rochester with highs of 37 fahrenheit, lows of 29 fahrenheit, and up to an inch of snow. Minneapolis expects a mix of rain and snow with a high of 43 fahrenheit and a low of 34 fahrenheit. In Duluth, rain and snow chances increase to 60% by evening, with similar mixed conditions continuing Friday and Saturday, reaching highs near 39 fahrenheit.