Frequent and Heavy Rains Continue in June

Frequent and Heavy Rains Continue in June:

This week was dominated again by widespread rainfall, and in some cases record-setting rains that produced minor to moderate flood warnings for portions of the Cottonwood River, Crow River, Minnesota River, and Mississippi River, as well as streams and creeks in northeastern Minnesota, including the Vermilion River near Crane Lake.

Many observers have reported rainfall on 14-15 of the first 20 days this month. Dozens of new daily record rainfall amounts have been recorded so far this month within the state climate observation network. Many NOAA climate observers reported record-setting rainfalls on June 18-19. The heavy thunderstorms were associated with dew points in the 70s F, the highest of the year so far. Some of these rainfall amounts were close to all-time daily rainfall records for June, including:

Brimson 5.18 inches
Tower 4.60 inches
Cook 5.10 inches
Tettegouche State Park 5.02 inches
Embarrass 4.33 inches
Wolf Ridge 5.32 inches
Orr 3.42 inches

The 5.32 inches measured at Wolf Ridge in Lake County on June 19 will likely be a new all-time statewide record within the NOAA network for Minnesota. Other observers who are part of the State Climatology Office networks reported from 5 to 7 inches of rainfall. A more complete analysis of the thunderstorms from June 18-19 can be found at the Minnesota State Climatology Office web site.

With this week’s rainfall totals many climate stations (over 270) now report over 6 inches of rainfall for the month so far. Many climate stations have reported over 7 inches of rainfall for the month so far, and some are nearing record monthly totals. A few examples:

Cook (St Louis County) 7.65 inches ranks as wettest June in history
Brownton (McLeod County) 10.37 inches ranks as 2nd wettest June in history
Embarrass (St Louis County) 7.84 inches ranks as 2nd wettest June in history
Faribault (Rice County) 10.38 inches ranks as 4th wettest June in history
Forest Lake (Washington County) 8.40 inches ranks as 7th wettest June in history

Overall, on a statewide basis this June ranks among the wettest 20 historically with a statewide average well over 5 inches and we still have 9 days left in the month. It will clearly be our third consecutive month with above normal rainfall for most places in the state.

Weekly Weather Potpourri:

Summer solstice June 20th brought over 15 hours of daylight to just over 16 hours of daylight to many parts of Minnesota this week. A primer on the summer solstice can be found at the BBC Weather Center for those who might want to teach their children more about it and how it varies with latitude.

The Weather Underground web site summarizes the Heat Wave affecting portions of the Midwest, Atlantic, and Northeastern states this week. It is expected to continue into the weekend. Record-setting temperatures have already occurred in Caribou, ME (98deg F), Boston, MA (98 deg. F), and Hartford, CT (97 deg. F). Peak Heat Index readings this weekend in Philadelphia are expected to range between 100 to 105 degrees F.

Science Daily web site reports from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst that scientists have recently found that non-native species are expanding their ranges many orders of magnitude faster than native ones, in large part due to inadvertent human help. Many native species cannot expand their range of adaptability fast enough to keep up with climate change.

MPR listener question:

Here in McLeod County the rain gauge on my farm has recorded over 11 inches of rainfall so far this

June. I was wondering what is the most ever June rainfall reported for the state?

Answer:

The most June rainfall for McLeod County was in 2014 when 12.29 inches fell near Brownton. That same month near Belle Plaine (Scott County) they reported a statewide June record of 17.30 inches of rainfall. June of 2014 was the only month in state history when the average statewide rainfall was over 8 inches.

Twin Cities Almanac for June 21st:

The average MSP high temperature for this date is 81 degrees F (plus or minus 8 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is 62 degrees F (plus or minus 7 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for June 21st:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 95 degrees F in 1910; lowest daily maximum temperature of 59 degrees F in 1906; lowest daily minimum temperature of 39 degrees F in 1992; highest daily minimum temperature of 74 degrees F in 1943, and record precipitation of 2.95 inches in 2002. No snowfall has occurred on this date.

Average dew point for June 21st is 56°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 75°F in 1986; and the minimum dew point on this date is 26 degrees F in 1992.

All-time state records for June 21st:

The state record high temperature for this date is 107 degrees F at Browns Valley (Traverse County) in 1988. The state record low temperature for this date is 25 degrees F at Brimson (St Louis County) in 1992. The state record precipitation for this date is 6.25 inches at West Union (Todd County) in 1941. There has been no snowfall on this date.

Past Weather:

The hottest June 21st in state history was in 1988, when most climate observers reported an afternoon high temperature of 90F. Observers in 22 southern and western counties reported a maximum temperature of 100 degrees F or greater. It was only 73 degrees F at Grand Marais harbor that day.

June 21st of 1992 is long remembered by many Minnesota farmers for the widespread frost and damage to corn and soybean crops. It is the only instance historically of such a widespread frost on the longest day of the year (Summer Solstice). Morning low temperatures in northern counties ranged from the mid to upper 20s F, but even southern agricultural counties saw frost, including Wabasha, Otter Tail, Sherburne, Fillmore, and Goodhue Counties. The year 1992 produced the coldest growing season of the 20th Century for Minnesota and parts of the Midwest and Canada and this was partially attributable to the eruption of Mt Pinatubo over in the Philippines in 1991.

In the late afternoon and evening of Friday, June 21 and the early morning hours of Saturday, June 22 in 2013 a powerful complex of thunderstorms marched across the southern one-half of Minnesota, producing damaging winds, hail, and flooding rains. Large hail and high winds (over 60 mph) inflicted some damage in some parts of southern and western Minnesota. Many observers reported from 2 to 5 inches of rainfall, with 5.60 inches at Morris. Several crop fields were ponded by the excess rain for a day to two.

Outlook:

Shower activity will continue across most of the state on Saturday, and even into Sunday up north. Sunnier skies will dominate by late Sunday and Monday. Dry weather should prevail through Wednesday of next week with temperatures slightly warmer than normal. Increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms by Thursday and Friday.