Issued at 4:20 PM CST, Tuesday, February 10th, 2009
Weather History:
On this date in 2008, the high temperature at Duluth was -3 degrees with a low temperature of -19 degrees.
The atmosphere after taking a rather lengthy vacation during most of January is now unleashing it’s fury here in February as storm after storm is set to affect portions of the U.S. during the next week or two.
Here are some precipitation totals around Minnesota from 6 AM CST Monday through 6 AM CST Tuesday.
Duluth MN: 0.48″
Brainerd MN: 0.36″
St. Cloud MN: 0.37″
Hamburg MN: 0.52″
Long Prairie MN: 0.39″
Mankato MN: 0.37″
Milaca MN: 0.52″
St. Peter MN: 0.51″
Waconia MN: 0.44″
Jackson MN: 0.36″
Windom MN: 0.30″
Sibley MN: 0.50″
Record low monthly pressure reading occurred at Sioux Falls South Dakota Monday Evening, February 9th, 2009… Barometer reading went down to 28.97″ which broke the previous February lowest pressure reading of 29.03″ which was set in 1977.
Surface Analysis at 22z:
Low pressure averaging 990 mb has crossed into extreme Southern Ontario, or just north of International Falls Minnesota. Two lows of 998 mb were centered over Southwest Oklahoma-Northern Texas with the second low over Southeastern Colorado. Good pressure rises up to 3 mb per 2 hours were occurring across much of Minnesota late Today in wake of this first storm, while the next storm over the Southern Plains is causing 3 mb per 2 hour pressure falls over Northern Texas and Central-Eastern Oklahoma.
Upper Air Analysis at 22z:
H5 low in assocation with storm number one continued to lift toward the N-NE through Northcentral Minnesota This Afternoon while the next shortwave trough heads east through the Southwest U.S. An H5 jet streak of 80-100 knots was located on the south-southeast side of this next storm from Northern Mexico toward West Texas. 12 hour H5 height falls of 90 meters have shifted into Northern Lake Superior per RUC model late Today with storm number one, while height falls of 120 meters per 12 hours cover Southeast New Mexico and a small part of West Texas with storm number two. Temperatures aloft have cooled Today around Minnesota as chillier air develops across the state underneath the upper level low pressure system. H85 temperatures at 4 PM Today ranged from zero to -2 degrees C.
Today’s Weather:
Big storm system continued to affect Minnesota’s weather Today with more wind and rain along with some wet snow and freezing drizzle. The most widespread precipitation has fallen over Northern Minnesota Today while precip has been somewhat more spotty over Western, Central, and Eastern Minnesota. Southern areas of the state was dry Today thanks to some sinking air between the big low to the north and the second storm tracking into the Southern Plains. The big snows with this storm occurred over parts of Central and Western North Dakota where 5 to 14 inches of snow fell from late Monday through Today. Skies have actually cleared out across Southern Minnesota This Afternoon while cloudy skies lingered elsewhere. High temperatures around the state were in the 30s and 40s Today with some 50s Southeast. Winds across the state were out of the south, west, or north at 10 to 20 mph with wind gusts of 20 to around 40 mph over Southern, Central, and Eastern areas of the state.
Temperatures around Minnesota at 4 PM ranged from 39 degrees at Lakeville to 34 degrees at Hallock to 30 degrees at Detroit Lakes to 36 degrees at Grand Rapids to 37 degrees at Hibbing to 34 degrees at Alexandria to 32 degrees at Wadena to 36 degrees at Aitkin to 36 degrees at Cloquet to 43 degrees at Windom to 46 degrees at Fairmont to 50 degrees at Winona.
Tonight through Wednesday Night:
Strong upper level and surface area of low pressure will continue to lift N-NE out of Northern Minnesota into Ontario Province during this period while a second storm deepens as it lifts northeast out of the Southern Plains…The low with this system looks like it’ll pass near or south-east of Chicago Illinois by late Wednesday. Rain showers will mix with and change to snow showers and flurries around Northern Minnesota Tonight with areas of snow showers and flurries then lingering Tomorrow and Tomorrow Night. Patchy drizzle or freezing drizzle could also occur at times in Northern Minnesota Tonight. The rest of the state should be mainly dry through Wednesday Night, but there is a possibility for some light snow or rain affecting Southeast Minnesota Wednesday and Wednesday Evening as that second storm passes southeast of Minnesota. Lows Tonight and Wednesday Night will be in the teens, 20s, and low 30s with highs Wednesday in the 20s and 30s with a few 40s possible South. Winds will be out of the southwest, west, or north at 10 to around 25 mph.
Extended Forecast:
A third storm currently moving into the Pacific Northwest Today which has brought some snow to Seattle Washington will drop southeast into the Rockies, then eject east through the Plains later this week into the early weekend period. This next storm should bring some snow to parts of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri later in the week with far Southern Minnesota possibly seeing a bit of snow from that storm toward Friday or Saturday. Overall though the weather around Minnesota looks pretty quiet from Thursday through Saturday as high pressure controls our weather for the most part. One interesting thing that looks to unfold here from Thursday into Friday is that winds over Lake Superior look to shift to the east-northeast which could cause some lake effect snow showers to form over the lake if enough cold air is present…Winds on land look to remain from the northwest or north though, so it doesn’t appear that any lake effect snow would move on-shore later this week. The weather pattern from late in the weekend through next week could feature the Western trough becoming more amplified once again which could lead to more precipitation returning to portions of Minnesota at that time. High temperatures around Minnesota will be in the teens, 20s, and 30s for Thursday and Friday with lows Thursday Night and Friday Night mainly in the single digits, teens, and 20s.
Forecast for Duluth/Superior:
.Tonight… Breezy with light rain and drizzle which will become mixed with and change over to light snow and flurries during the night. Little snow accumulation expected. Low 25 to 30. Wind southwest at 12 to 24 mph with gusts to 30 mph This Evening.
.Wednesday… Considerable cloudiness with a few snow showers and flurries. High 30 to 35. Wind west to northwest at 10 to 20 mph.
.Wednesday Night… Partly to mostly cloudy with flurries. Low 15 to 20.
.Thursday… Partly sunny with flurries. High 25 to 30.
.Thursday Night… Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 10 to 15.
.Friday… Partly to mostly cloudy. High 20 to 25.
.Friday Night… Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 10 to 15.
4 PM Thompson Hill Observation:
Current Temperature: 35.6 degrees
Dewpoint: 34 degrees
Humidity: 97%
Wind: SW at 18 mph G 25 mph
Max Temperature Today: 39.2 degrees
Max Humidity Today: 99%
Min Temperature Today: 34.7 degrees
Min Humidity Today: 97%
Normal High Temperature Tomorrow 23 degrees
Normal Low Temperature Tomorrow 4 degrees
Tim
