Issued at 4:14 PM CDT, Thursday, October 27th, 2011
*Minnesota drought update as of October 25th, 2011*
Source: Climate Prediction Center.
80% of Minnesota is abnormally dry.
32% of Minnesota is under moderate drought conditions.
17% of Minnesota is under severe drought conditions.
October 2011 climate check for Duluth, Minnesota (Airport location)
Average monthly temperature thru the 26th: 50.2 degrees
Departure from average: +6.0 degrees
Monthly precipitation total thru the 26th: 1.02″
Departure from average: -1.45″
Weather History:
On this date last year, 4.3″ of snow fell at Duluth, Minnesota (on top of the hill)
Today’s Weather Summary for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin
A changeable day across the area with a mixture of clouds and sun with spotty showers of rain, sleet and snow. A pool of cold air aloft with temperatures at 18,000 feet running from -28 to -34 degrees C combined with some “warming” near the surface made the atmosphere quite unstable once again Today and this led to the development of these popcorn type showers that we saw Today. Precipitation totals have been light, generally under one tenth of an inch with some locations picking up a quick quarter to one inch of snow, especially earlier in the day when the surface temperature was colder. High temperatures Today were generally in the upper 30s to upper 40s with some middle 30s in far Northeast Minnesota. Winds Today were out of the west or north under 15 mph.
Today’s Upper Level Analysis:
Zonal flow covered the Northern U.S. per water vapor satellite imagery with a powerhouse 120-140 knot jet stream covering the Ohio Valley and Northeast U.S. per RUC model analysis. The most active weather Today occurred in the Southern U.S. into the Northeast U.S. where some snow has been falling in North Texas and also in portions of Pennsylvania and New York.
Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin
Tonight:
Pop-up showers of rain, sleet and snow will end between 7-9pm This Evening. The next disturbance embedded in this zonal flow will move into Northcentral Minnesota late Tonight and bring with it some snow or mixed snow and rain showers. Low temperatures will be in the 20s and 30s with winds turning to the south or west under 15 mph.
Friday and Friday Night:
Low pressure will pass north of our area with a cold front attached to this low passing through the Upper Midwest on Friday. Scattered showers of snow and rain will be found in our area on Friday with the potential for a dusting to one inch of snow accumulation in some locations, mainly Tomorrow Morning. Highs on Friday with partly sunny to mostly cloudy skies will be in the 40s with some 30s possible in Northern areas. Lows Friday Night will be in the 20s and 30s. It looks dry Tomorrow Night with skies becoming partly cloudy. Winds during this period will shift from the southwest to the west-northwest with wind speeds generally less than 20 mph.
Extended Forecast:
Dry weather is expected for Saturday with high temperatures mainly in the 40s. Saturday Night through Sunday Evening will feature an area of low pressure passing west-south of Northern Minnesota, this system won’t be able to tap into very much moisture, but there should be enough moisture to generate some areas of light rain or a rain/snow mix for late Saturday Night and Sunday mainly affecting Eastcentral Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin based on latest model data. Low temperatures Saturday Night will mainly be in the 30s with highs on Sunday in the 40s with lows Sunday Night in the 20s and 30s. Early next week looks dry at this time with near to slightly above average temperatures expected.
5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH/SUPERIOR
.Tonight… Partly to mostly cloudy. Spotty rain, sleet or snow showers before 7PM. Rain or snow showers re-developing after 4AM. Low 30 to 35. Wind west at 5 to 15 mph.
.Friday… Variable cloudiness. Snow or rain showers possible during the Morning. Rain showers possible during the Afternoon. High 41 to 46. Wind west at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 40% early and 30% in the Afternoon.
.Friday Night… Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 28 to 33. Wind west to northwest at 5 to 15 mph.
.Saturday… Partly cloudy. High 40 to 45.
.Saturday Night… Mostly cloudy. Low 30 to 35.
.Sunday… Mostly cloudy. High 40 to 45.
.Sunday Night… Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 30 to 35.
.Monday… Partly cloudy. High 45 to 50.
Normal temperatures for Today
High: 46 degrees
Low: 31 degrees
Sunrise Friday: 7:45 AM CDT
Sunset Friday: 6:00 PM CDT
Tim
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