/Issued 6:01 PM CDT, Sunday, May 27, 2018/
Source: http://weather.cod.edu
18z NAM-Nest model
Source: https://www.tropicaltidbits.com
18z RGEM model
Source: http://www.pivotalweather.com/
Heat advisories remain in effect through Monday for southern Minnesota, meanwhile to our west a risk of flooding for parts of the northern Rockies and western High Plains.
Source: https://hprcc.unl.edu
Temperature departure map for the week of May 20, 2018 — A very warm week across the entire Northland with temperatures running well above average.
Source: https://hprcc.unl.edu
Precipitation departure map for the week of May 20, 2018 — Most of the Northland had below average precipitation totals last week, but there were a few pockets of near to above average rainfall (Green and Blue areas on map)
…Record warmth continues in the Northland…
Record or a top 5 warmest high temperature on record for May 26, 2018
Duluth, Minnesota
Record high temperature of 92 degrees — The previous record high for May 26 was 85 degrees set in 2014. Note: 2nd warmest low temperature on record for May 26 with a low Saturday morning of 57 degrees — The record warm low temperature for May 26 is 63 degrees set in 2014.
Brainerd, Minnesota
Record high temperature of 92 degrees — The previous record high for May 26 was 88 degrees set in 2014.
Ashland, Wisconsin
Record high temperature of 91 degrees — The previous record high for May 26 was 90 degrees set in 1914 and tied again in 1978.
…Record or a top 5 warmest low temperature for some locations in the Northland on May 25, 2018…
Brainerd, Minnesota
Record warm low temperature on May 25 with a low on Friday morning of 65 degrees. The previous record warm low temperature for May 25 was 61 degrees set in 2014.
Ashland, Wisconsin
Record warm low temperature on May 25 with a low on Friday morning of 62 degrees. The previous record warm low temperature for May 25 was 58 degrees set in 1959.
Duluth, Minnesota
Record warm low temperature tied on May 25 with a low on Friday morning of 60 degrees, this ties with May 25, 2014 for warmest low temperature on record.
Hibbing, Minnesota
3rd warmest low temperature on record for May 25 with a low on Friday morning of 57 degrees. The record warm low temperature for May 25 is 63 degrees set in 2010.
International Falls, Minnesota
4th warmest low temperature on record for May 25 with a low on Friday morning of 59 degrees. The record warm low temperature for May 25 is 61 degrees set in 2010.
Temperature and Precipitation report for Duluth, Minnesota
May 20-26, 2018
High Temperatures/Departure from Normal
*=Record High Temperature broken for the date
5/20: 69 F/+5 degrees above normal
5/21: 72 F/+8 degrees above normal
5/22: 79 F/+15 degrees above normal
5/23: 81 F/+17 degrees above normal
5/24: 79 F/+14 degrees above normal
5/25: *89 F/+24 degrees above normal
5/26: *92 F/+27 degrees above normal
Low Temperatures/Departure from Normal
*=Record warmest low temperature tied for the date
5/20: 31 F/-11 degrees below normal
5/21: 38 F/-4 degrees below normal
5/22: 55 F/+13 degrees above normal
5/23: 50 F/+7 degrees above normal
5/24: 58 F/+15 degrees above normal
5/25: *60 F/+17 degrees above normal
5/26: 57 F/+14 degrees above normal
Note: Average Temperature for the week of May 20: 65.0 degrees (+11.5 degrees above normal) Source: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us
Total Precipitation: 0.28 inches
Normal: 0.74 inches
Departure: -0.46 inches below normal
State Averages for Minnesota for the week of May 20, 2018
Source: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us
Temperature: 64.8 degrees
Departure: +6.5 degrees above normal
Precipitation: 0.68 inches
Departure: -0.06 inches below normal
Weather Tidbits
•Today, May 27 marks the 4th day in a row with a high temperature at or above 90 degrees in the Twin Cities, this ties the record for longest stretch of 90s in May.
•Today, May 27 marks the 7th day at or above 80 degrees this month at Duluth, Minnesota — The record for number of 80 degree days during the month of May is 8 set in 1980. Currently, May 2018 is tied with May 1988 for 2nd place with 7 days at or above 80 degrees. Records date back to 1875.
•High temperature of 92 degrees at Duluth, Minnesota on May 26, 2018 ties with May 6, 2016 for 2nd warmest temperature on record during the month of May. Warmest, 95 degrees set on May 30, 1939.
•May 2018 is the 10th May on record to produce at least one 90 degree day at Duluth, Minnesota, the other years include 1919, 1932, 1934, 1939, 1944, 1964, 1969, 1986, 2016. Records date back to 1875.
•Record high temperature at Duluth, Minnesota today (May 27) New record, 88 degrees; Old record 86 degrees set in 1969. This is the 3rd day in a row with a record high temperature, and the 4th record high this month!
Weather Synopsis
Another warm one! A strong upper level ridge (5820 meters) remains in place from the central Plains to the upper Midwest. Mid afternoon 850mb temperatures ranged from +20 to +24C over most of Minnesota with 925mb temps ranging from +32C in far southwest Minnesota to +22 to +30C over the rest of the state, incredible warmth for late May!
Highs today ranged from the mid 70s to mid 80s in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin but it was hotter farther south with widespread 90s across southern Minnesota with a few locations just one degree shy of 100 at 3 PM today (Tracy, Slayton, Worthington and Fairmont)
There was quite a bit of cloud cover (mainly high level clouds) covering the area this afternoon thanks to a decaying thunderstorm complex that rolled east out of western Minnesota this morning.
Surface map late this afternoon had an area of low pressure over eastern South Dakota with a weak boundary extending northeast of the low through central Minnesota with a cold front in northwest Minnesota.
Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast to develop and move through parts of the Northland from late evening through the overnight hours — A few of the storms could be on the strong side with steep mid level lapse rates, stronger mid level winds and stronger wind shear over our area. A negative are the warm 700mb temps or the cap (+10 H7 temps) across central Minnesota, usually any thunderstorm activity would ride just north/east of these warmer 700mb temperatures, so if any convection does develop later tonight it should impact portions of the Northland. Lows tonight will be in the 50s and 60s.
Memorial Day (Monday) The area of low pressure, warm front and cold front moving through our area tonight will exit to the south/east on Monday. Lingering showers and thunderstorms possible early in the day otherwise it looks generally dry for Memorial Day despite a pool of strong instability which will cover areas just to our south. Highs Monday will be in the 70s and 80s.
Note: Temperatures will be cooler at times near Lake Superior through Wednesday, and there could also be periods of fog which could become dense at times.
Tuesday and Wednesday will feature more chances for scattered showers and thunderstorms with some heavy rainfall possible thanks to a rather muggy airmass that’ll be in place. Warm temperatures are expected to persist into midweek with more record or near record warmth possible for some locations in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.
Forecast for Duluth and Superior
.Tonight… Partly to mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms possible late. Areas of fog possible. Low 57 to 62. Wind east at 5 to 15 mph.
.Memorial Day… Areas of fog possible, otherwise partly to mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms possible mainly early in the day. High 77 to 82 but cooler near Lake Superior. Wind east at 10 to 20 mph.
.Tuesday… Partly to mostly cloudy. A few showers or thunderstorms possible. High 70 to 75 but cooler near Lake Superior. Wind east at 10 to 20 mph.
Normal Temperatures for May 28
High: 66
Low: 44
Sunrise Monday: 5:21 AM CDT
Sunset Monday: 8:52 PM CDT
Tim