Issued at 4:33 PM CST, Monday, February 23rd, 2009
Here are some low temperatures from around the area earlier Today, February 23rd, 2009.
Duluth MN: -9 degrees
International Falls MN: -20 degrees
Ely MN: -20 degrees
Orr MN: -20 degrees
Pine River MN: -17 degrees
Superior WI: -6 degrees
Babbitt MN: -22 degrees
Embarrass MN: -23 degrees
3 miles West of Floodwood MN: -16 degrees
3 miles East of Orr MN: -22 degrees
Littlefork MN: -17 degrees
Staples MN: -11 degrees
Milaca MN: -11 degrees
Long Prairie MN: -10 degrees
Baudette MN: -13 degrees
Park Rapids MN: -14 degrees
Wadena MN: -15 degrees
Bemidji MN: -11 degrees
Hallock MN: -13 degrees
Roseau MN: -11 degrees
Warroad MN: -11 degrees
Surface Analysis at 22z:
High pressure ridge averaging 1034 mb has shifted to the northeast, east, and southeast of Minnesota. Low pressure averaging 1012 mb was centered Southcentral Montana. A warm front extended from Eastern Montana to Western Nebraska. Pockets of 60 degree temperatures were found southwest of this warm frontal boundary Today over Southeast Montana and Eastern Wyoming…Meanwhile, temperatures in the 80s and 90s were building over Southern Arizona and Western Mexico.
Upper Air Analysis at 22z:
Deep upper trough covered the Eastern U.S. with another upper level trough moving into the Western U.S. In between, there was an H5 ridge extending from the Southwest U.S. into the Plains. This week is going to be one characterized by huge temperature extremes from north to south across the U.S. Today’s H8 temperatures ranged from zero to -2 degrees C across Southwest Minnesota to -8 to -12 degrees C across Northern, Central, and Eastern Minnesota. H8 temps of +2 to +8 degree C temps were found over the Northern Plains and Northern Rockies with +20 to +26 degree C H8 temps covering the Southwest U.S. into Mexico. The flow aloft over the Upper Midwest was generally from the west Today with a couple of weak disturbances seen on water vapor satellite imagery tracking east out of the Northern Rockies and Northern Plains with a strong upper level low heading east-northeast toward Oregon and Washington late Today.
Today’s Weather:
A very cold, but sunny start to the day has changed to one with warm advection, a southerly wind, and an increase in cloud cover around Minnesota This Afternoon as high pressure shifts to our east. A southerly wind combined with cold air in place earlier in the day even caused some scattered lake effect clouds and snow showers to develop along the North Shore of Lake Superior generally over Southeastern Lake and Southern Cook Counties in Northeast Minnesota. High temperatures Today were in the teens and 20s with some low 30s Southwest. Winds across the state were out of the south or east around 20 mph or less.
Temperatures around Minnesota at 4 PM ranged from 22 degrees at St Paul to 23 degrees at Roseau to 18 degrees at Park Rapids to 21 degrees at Big Fork to 16 degrees at Duluth to 25 degrees at Willmar to 19 degrees at Staples to 25 degrees at Moose Lake to 34 degrees at Pipestone to 31 degrees at Canby to 25 degrees at Fairmont to 20 degrees at Rochester.
Tonight:
Partly to mostly cloudy skies will cover Minnesota with lows in the single digits, teens, and 20s. Winds will be out of the south or east around 20 mph or less. There’s been some radar echoes tracking east through the Dakotas toward Western Minnesota Today, but none of this has been reaching the ground due to a dry airmass in place…Some moistening of the atmosphere could occur during the night which may lead to a few snow showers or flurries reaching the surface, mainly over Northern and Eastern parts of the state.
Tuesday and Tuesday Night:
Low pressure will head east out of the Northern Rockies during this period with a warm front and cold front attached to this low heading into the state by Tuesday Afternoon/Night. Should see some snow develop across Northern Minnesota during this period with accumulations of 1 to possibly 4 inches occurring by early Wednesday. Some snow, sleet, or freezing rain could develop Tuesday Afternoon and Night for parts of Western, Central, and Eastern Minnesota with up to a half inch or inch of snow possible for Eastcentral areas of the state by early Wednesday. Partly sunny to mostly cloudy skies are forecast on Tuesday with highs in the 20s and 30s with some 40s possible South. Lows Tuesday Night under mostly cloudy skies will settle into the 20s and 30s with single digits and teens possible Northwest. Winds on Tuesday will be out of the south, west, or east at 10 to 20 mph. Winds Tuesday Night will be from the southeast, west, or north around 20 mph or less.
Extended Forecast:
Low pressure will exit Minnesota to the east on Wednesday which will end the snow or mixed precipitation threat…Then, look for an arctic frontal boundary to drop south/east across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest from Wednesday into late Thursday. Still seeing plenty of differences with Today’s set of forecast models in regards to how far south and east this arctic air will spread, and also in regards to the track and intensity of a possible low pressure system that could take shape over the Southern or Central Plains by mid-week. It should be mainly dry around Minnesota on Wednesday with a wide range in temperatures expected with highs from the single digits below to above zero Northwest to the 30s and 40s South and East. Lows Wednesday Night will be in the single digits and teens below to above zero North and West to the 20s and 30s South. Highs Thursday will be in the single digits and teens below to above zero North and West with 30s and possible 40s Southeast with lows Thursday Night in the teens and 20s below zero Northwest with 20s Southeast.
The period from Wednesday Night through late Thursday is one that could feature some accumulating snowfall for Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern areas of Minnesota with some heavy snowfall totals possible, depending on the exact track and intensity of the Plains low. Rain or some freezing rain could also fall in Southern areas of Minnesota on Thursday.
The weather from Friday through most of the weekend should be generally dry across Minnesota the way it looks now with a cold airmass in place as strong high pressure settles into the Upper Mississippi Valley region.
5 Day Forecast for Duluth/Superior:
.Tonight… Mostly cloudy. Low 7 to 12. Wind east to southeast at 5 to 15 mph.
.Tuesday… Considerable cloudiness. High 25 to 30. Wind east to southeast at 10 to 15 mph.
.Tuesday Night… Mostly cloudy. Light snow or flurries possible. Low 20 to 25. Wind southeast at 5 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
.Wednesday… Mostly cloudy. Light snow or flurries possible, mainly early. Total accumulations less than one inch. High 28 to 33. Chance of snow 20%.
.Wednesday Night… Mostly cloudy. Low 10 to 15.
.Thursday… Mostly cloudy. Snow possible. High 20 to 25. Chance of snow 20%.
.Thursday Night… Mostly cloudy. Snow possible. Low zero to 5 below. Chance of snow 20%.
.Friday… Partly cloudy. High 5 to 10.
4 PM Thompson Hill Observation:
Current Temperature: 16 degrees
Dewpoint: 6 degrees
Humidity: 65%
Wind: E at 4 mph G 10 mph
Max Temperature Today: 23.6 degrees
Max Humidity Today: 82%
Min Temperature Today: zero degrees
Min Humidity Today: 42%
Normal High Temperature Tomorrow 27 degrees
Normal Low Temperature Tomorrow 8 degrees
Tim
