Meteorologist’s Frozen Pasta Goes Viral
Minneapolis weather experiment highlights extreme cold as winter storm impacts much of the US
Meteorologist Jennifer McDermed has gone viral on social media after sharing a striking cold-weather experiment: a plate of pasta frozen solid in mid-air during sub-zero temperatures in Minneapolis.
Last week, as severe winter conditions gripped multiple U.S. regions, McDermed posted a video and photos on X (formerly Twitter) showing a forkful of pasta completely frozen in place.
“Minneapolis reached a low of –21°F and a wind chill of –45°F this morning! Ouch! Obviously I had to do the pasta experiment,” she wrote on January 23.
The clip quickly exploded online, generating millions of views as users marveled at how fast food can freeze in extreme Arctic air masses.
‘Still Sitting on My Deck’
In a follow-up post, McDermed assured curious viewers that the viral moment wasn’t edited or staged:
“This is 100% real. Still sitting on my deck. Want to come over and try it for dinner?” she joked.
McDermed recently announced she is taking a short break from her position at KMSP in Minneapolis as she relocates to California. Despite the move, she has continued sharing winter weather updates and safety tips with her followers.
Storm ‘Fern’ Brings Disruptions Nationwide
The viral post comes amid harsh winter conditions across the country. Over the weekend, Winter Storm Fern moved through the West and Midwest before pushing into parts of the South and East Coast. The system brought widespread snow, freezing rain, and dangerous wind chills expected to continue through Monday, January 26.
The storm caused significant travel and infrastructure issues, including:
Thousands of canceled flights
Hundreds of thousands of power outages
Hazardous road conditions across multiple states
Meteorologists have urged residents to limit outdoor exposure and prepare for prolonged cold, noting that similar freezing phenomena — such as frozen clothing, frozen bubbles, and now pasta — can occur rapidly in such temperatures.
