Issued at 7:59 PM CDT, Thursday, July 28th, 2011
Incredible rain totals during the past 24 hours in portions of Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.
Source: WGN TV. NWS Chicago, IL and La Crosse, WI.
Galena, Illinois: 14.50″
Dubuque, Iowa: 14.30″/fell in 12 hours!
Sinsinawa, Wisconsin: 10.11″
Weather Tidbits:
*68,028 lightning strokes occurred last night in Eastern Iowa, Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin (WGN TV)
*Winds gusted to 92 mph off Chicago’s shoreline with those storms last night (WGN TV)
*Wettest July ever at Chicago O’Hare. 9.80″ of rain has fallen so far in July 2011 which beats the previous record of 9.56″ set in 1889. (WGN TV)
*July 2011 is the 9th wettest month in Chicago, Illinois. The wettest month on record occurred in August, 1987 when 17.10″ of rain fell. (WGN TV)
*2.38″ of rain has fallen at Duluth, Minnesota during the past 10 days.
*16 days so far this month with at least a trace of rain at Duluth, Minnesota.
*4.48″ of rain so far this month at Duluth, Minnesota which is 0.67″ above average.
*Today marks the 13th day so far this month with a high temperature of at least 80 degrees at Duluth, Minnesota. July 2010 had 13 days at or above 80 degrees with zero days in the 90s whereas July 2011 has had 3 days in the 90s.
Blazing heat continues down south.
Source: Paul Douglas. St. Cloud Times.
*San Angelo, Texas: Tuesday marked the 61st day of 100+ degree temperatures. This breaks the old record of 60 days set in 1969.
*Abilene, Texas: 47th day at or above 100 degrees. This breaks the previous record of 46 days set in 1934.
*Tuesday marked the 56th consecutive day with 90+ degree temperatures in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This is the 2nd longest streak on record.
*Dallas, Texas high of 102 degrees on Tuesday and another day above the century mark on Wednesday makes it the 26th straight day of 100 degree heat. This ties for the 3rd longest stretch with August 1952 of 100 degree temperatures.
Weather History:
On this date in 2006: A record high temperature of 97 degrees occurred at Duluth, Minnesota.
On this date in 1992: A record low temperature of 45 degrees occurred at Duluth, Minnesota.
WEATHER HEADLINES:
-Slight chance for a shower/thunderstorm in far Northern Minnesota Tonight
-Mainly dry thru Friday Night
-Mild temperatures continue into early next week
-Thunderstorm threat increases this weekend, but especially Saturday into early Sunday
Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin
Today’s Weather:
Widespread thick fog developed in our area early This Morning, the fog burned off shortly after sunrise with partly to mostly cloudy skies occurring for the rest of the day. An isolated shower did develop This Afternoon in Southern Itasca County Minnesota, near the Grand Rapids area and a few strong thunderstorms developed late This Afternoon in Southeastern Price County Wisconsin, mainly near the Spirit area. Outside of those locations it was a dry day. Highs Today were mainly in the 80s with dewpoints running in the 50s and 60s. Winds were out of the west under 15 mph.
Today’s Upper Level Analysis:
500mb low was moving east through the Manitoba Lakes region early This Evening per water vapor satellite imagery. A west-southwest upper level flow was occurring ahead of this system over the Upper Midwest.
Tonight:
Partly cloudy skies will be found in our area with patchy late night fog possible, although it should not be as dense or as widespread as last night. Isolated showers or thunderstorms are possible late Tonight, mainly along the Minnesota-Ontario border. Lows will be in the 50s and 60s with west winds under 15 mph.
Friday and Friday Night:
High pressure will pass through the Upper Midwest during this period. Expect partly cloudy skies with highs on Friday mainly in the 80s with lows Friday Night in the 50s and 60s. West, northwest or southwest winds under 20 mph can be expected.
Extended Forecast:
Southerly flow develops on Saturday as a cold front moves into Minnesota. Dewpoints will climb into the 60s to lower 70s with PWS of 1.00-1.50″. Instability will be on the increase with CAPE of 1500-2500 j/kg and Lifted Indices of -2 to -6 degrees C. Wind shear will also be present on Saturday with around 30-40 knots of 0-6 KM and EFFECTIVE BULK SHEAR. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast to develop in Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin from Saturday into early Sunday with a few severe thunderstorms possible Saturday Afternoon and Evening, especially in Northcentral, Northeast and Eastcentral Minnesota the way it looks now. Large hail and damaging wind would be the main threats from any severe weather, and heavy rainfall and dangerous lightning will also occur in any thunderstorm. Highs on Saturday will be in the 70s and 80s with lows Saturday Night mainly in the 60s. Sunday and Sunday Night should generally be dry, but a few showers or thunderstorms can’t be ruled out mainly in Southern portions of our area, or from the Brainerd Lakes region, east into Northwestern Wisconsin. Highs on Sunday will mainly be in the 80s with lows Sunday Night in the 50s and 60s.
A new cold front moves across our area sometime Monday Night or Tuesday…Models are hinting at strong MCS development in the Northland as this boundary moves through. Timing of this system is still somewhat uncertain since it’s still a good 4 days away, but recent model data shows that Monday Night and or Tuesday Morning could be a tad stormy.
5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH/SUPERIOR
.Tonight… Mostly clear. Patchy fog possible Overnight. Low 58 to 63. Wind west under 12 mph.
.Friday… Partly cloudy. High 80 to 85. Wind west at 10 to 15 mph.
.Friday Night… Partly cloudy. Low 58 to 63. Wind southwest at 5 to 15 mph.
.Saturday… Partly sunny. More humid. Showers and thunderstorms possible. High 80 to 85. Chance of rain 30%.
.Saturday Night… Showers and thunderstorms possible. Mostly cloudy. Low 60 to 65. Chance of rain 60%.
.Sunday… Partly sunny. Showers or thunderstorms possible, mainly early. High 80 to 85. Chance of rain 20%.
.Sunday Night… Mostly clear. Low 58 to 63.
.Monday… Partly cloudy. High 77 to 82.
Normal temperatures for Tomorrow
High: 77 degrees
Low: 56 degrees
Friday’s Pollen Forecast:
Grass: Low
Weed: Low
Tree: None
Sunrise Tomorrow: 5:45 AM CDT
Sunset Tomorrow: 8:45 PM CDT
Tim