Issued at 3:50 PM CDT, Saturday, September 29th, 2012
Weather Tidbits:
*80s in portions of Minnesota Today. Here are some temperatures from 3 PM Today: Fosston 88F; Morris 84F; St. Cloud 84F; Fergus Falls 84F; Hallock 84F; Roseau 82F; Mankato 82F.
*45 Counties in Minnesota are in severe or extreme drought as of September 25th. (Paul Douglas St Cloud Times)
*77% of Minnesota is in moderate drought as of September 25th, this is up from just 13% three months ago. (Paul Douglas St. Cloud Times)
*More than 35% of Minnesota is in severe or extreme drought this week. This is the largest total since Fall of 2006. Only Cook County in Northeast Minnesota wasn’t in any kind of drought or abnormally dry conditions this week. (Paul Douglas St Cloud Times)
Today’s Weather Summary for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin
The marine layer increased Today resulting in cool temperatures closer to Lake Superior where highs were in the 50s to around 60 degrees. Farther away from Lake Superior it was another gorgeous autumn day with very warm temperatures with highs in the 70s to around 80 degrees. Skies were mainly sunny Today, but there has been an area of low clouds and fog around the Bayfield Peninsula and in Northern Ashland County in Northwest Wisconsin. Winds were out of the north or east at 5 to 15 mph.
Today’s Upper Level Analysis:
An upper low is moving through the Eastern Great Lakes with another disturbance lifting northeast out of Eastern Montana per water vapor satellite imagery. 850mb temperatures as of 3 PM ranged from +10 to +16C across Minnesota.
Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin
Tonight (September 29th)
Clear-partly cloudy skies will continue with patchy low clouds/fog possible at times near Lake Superior. Lows will be in the 30s and 40s with north or east winds at 5 to 15 mph.
Sunday and Sunday Night (September 30th)
The month of September will end on a mild note if you’re away from Lake Superior. Sunny to partly cloudy skies are forecast Tomorrow with partly to mostly cloudy skies for Sunday Night. A cold front will move east out of the Dakotas and into/through most of Minnesota Sunday Night. There really won’t be much moisture to meet up with the approaching cold front, but a few rain showers may still develop Sunday Night in Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin. Highs on Sunday will range from the 50s and 60s near Lake Superior to the 70s and maybe even a few 80s for the remainder of the Northland. Lows Sunday Night will be in the 40s to lower 50s. East or southeast winds at 10 to 20 mph are expected on Sunday with north, south, or east winds Sunday Night at 5 to 15 mph.
*Rainfall forecast for Sunday Night-Monday per HPC. Looks like any rain that we get in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin won’t amount to much more than a trace to around 0.05″.
Extended Forecast, Monday through Wednesday (October 1st-3rd)
A few showers are possible in our area on Monday as a cold front continues to move E-SE through the Upper Midwest. It dries out Monday Night into Tuesday, and then another chance for showers enters the picture for Tuesday Night and Wednesday as a cold front heads into Minnesota. High temperatures on Monday and Tuesday will be in the 60s with a few 70s even possible on Tuesday. Lows Monday Night and Tuesday Night will mainly be in the 40s. High temperatures on Wednesday will be in the 50s to lower 60s.
Long Range Forecast (October 4th-9th)
The pattern which gave the Northland cold temperatures and to some the season’s 1st measurable snowfall back on September 21st-22nd looks to return through this period as a N/NW flow tightens it’s grip over the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and Central Canada. Unfortunately with this type of pattern, the prospects for a widespread/significant precipitation event are on the low side since the Gulf Of Mexico will be cut-off. Instead will probably see a few systems drop SE out of Canada, and those disturbances could bring some snow and or rain showers to our area at times from the 4th-9th along with below average temperatures the way it looks now.
5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH/SUPERIOR
.Tonight… Mostly clear. Patchy fog possible late. Low 37 to 42. Wind east at 5 to 15 mph.
.Sunday… Patchy fog possible early. Mostly sunny. High 64 to 69 but cooler near Lake Superior. Wind east at 10 to 20 mph.
.Sunday Night… Partly to mostly cloudy. Showers possible after Midnight. Low 43 to 48. Wind southeast at 5 to 15 mph becoming north.
.Monday… Showers possible during the Morning. Partly sunny. High 63 to 68.
.Monday Night… Mostly clear. Low 40 to 45.
.Tuesday… Partly cloudy. High 63 to 68.
.Tuesday Night… Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 45 to 50.
.Wednesday… Showers possible. Mostly cloudy. High 60 to 65.
Normal temperatures for Today
High: 59
Low: 41
Sunrise Sunday: 7:07 AM CDT
Sunset Sunday: 6:49 PM CDT
Tim