Widespread low clouds, mist and fog were found near Lake Superior today, although some improvements have taken place late this afternoon with at least a few peeks of sun in an otherwise cool and gloomy late summer day by Lake Superior.
Here’s one for you snow lovers out there!
A humid NE wind coming off Lake Superior will continue tonight so areas of low clouds and fog could linger through the night. Winds look to be more variable in direction this weekend so will get rid of the stronger marine layer which we’ve had the last 24 hours, but still can’t rule out times of fog and low clouds should a stronger NE wind develop Saturday or Sunday.
Goes-16 visible satellite loop from today shows the low clouds moving from NE to SW down the western shores of Lake Superior while mainly clear skies were found over central/eastern Lake Superior this afternoon.
Source: https://weather.cod.edu/
A west-northwest flow aloft covered the upper Midwest today between a strong upper level ridge across the western U.S. and an upper level low over the southeast U.S. Note: The ridge out west has weakened a bit compared to a few days ago when 500mb heights were around 600 meters, today’s 500mb heights were at 588 meters.
Source: https://www.spc.noaa.gov/
There’s no shortage of moisture and instability over the area today, but getting thunderstorms to develop in this environment has been a whole other story, this despite some lift associated with a frontal boundary near the Northland along with some additional energy which is approaching from the Dakotas.
We have seen a few storms pop up this afternoon over parts of northern Wisconsin, otherwise it’s been a dry day across the Northland.
So far this afternoon scattered thunderstorms have been developing over northeast South Dakota, and over parts of north-central Wisconsin and upper Michigan with nothing over eastern or northeast Minnesota as of 5 PM Friday.
Computer models continue to disagree as to what will happen tonight, a few models show some showers and thunderstorms gradually developing through the evening and into the overnight in parts of northeast Minnesota while other models keep the rains farther south/east.
Radar loop ending at 5 PM Friday, August 21, 2020.
Source: https://weather.cod.edu/
Chances for scattered showers and thunderstorms remain in the forecast across the Northland through Saturday night, but the key word here is scattered, hence the wide range in forecast rainfall totals as some locations may not see much rain at all, while others could see over a half inch of rain.
Sunday looks dry at this time as the pesky front which has been over the Northland the last few days gets pushed farther SE and away from our area on Sunday.
Highs Saturday and Sunday are forecast to be in the 70s and 80s, although it will be cooler near Lake Superior. It should remain a little humid as well especially Saturday as dew points will be in the 60s to around 70 degrees. Slightly drier air could move in for Sunday with dew points in the 50s and 60s.
Source: https://lab.weathermodels.com/
Will see how things evolve the next 2 weeks as tropical activity could change the upper level/temperature patterns just a bit, but for now here’s what the computer models are showing for temperatures for the next 2 weeks.
August 24-29 is forecast to have near to slightly above normal temperatures in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin per EPS and GEFS models.
Source: https://weathermodels.com/
Source: https://www.tropicaltidbits.com/
But then as we head into the first few days of Meteorological fall 2020 a pattern change could bring in some cooler air with below normal temperatures expected in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin from August 31 to September 5. Will see what happens!
Thanks for reading!
Tim
