Severe Thunderstorms Lead Off June

Severe Thunderstorms Lead Off June:

June 4th brought some severe thunderstorms to Minnesota with some of them producing hail, strong winds and heavy rainfalls of 1.5 to 3 inches. There were over 25 reports of large hail (1” to 2” diameters0, and in Dodge and Hubbard Counties hail stones as large as tennis balls were observed. There were over 30 reports of strong winds associated with these thunderstorms, some with gusts from 60 to 80 mph. In Henderson (Le Sueur County) a wind gust of 85 mph was reported. There was a very brief tornado touch down in Olmsted County southwest of Rochester, with some significant damage to a home reported there.

These storms brought widespread rainfall amounts from 0.25 inches up to 1 inch. However, some climate stations reported new daily record amounts, including:
Grand Meadow 2.40”
Lakeville 2.11”
Cloquet 2.04”
Spring Valley 1.50”
Two Harbors 1.10”

With some dry days this week, the acreage of soybeans planted across the state is now well over 50 percent, still very much behind normal. But more dry days are ahead.

Weekly Weather Potpourri:

NOAA features an interesting article this week about the Heat Wave that engulfed the southeastern states over the recent Memorial Weekend. Daytime temperature broke the century mark across portions of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

In this week’s AGU-EOS newsletter there is an interesting discussion about new technologies that are being considered to accurately measure precipitation in urban areas and oceans of the world. Where traditional rain gauge deployment is problematic, scientists are considering other ways to measure precipitation.

The national climate report from NOAA-NCEI said the country's average May precipitation total was 4.41 inches, 1.50 inches above the 20th-century average (1901-2000) and only 0.03 inches shy of the nation's all-time wettest month of May 2015 (4.44 inches) in records dating to January 1895. Record or near-record precipitation was observed in May from the West Coast to the central Plains, Great Lakes and parts of the northern mid-Atlantic region. Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri all experienced their wettest May on record, NOAA said. Seven additional states – Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Utah – ranked among their five wettest Mays.

MPR listener question:

Is it true that since the drought of 2012 we have had a run of wetter than normal years in Minnesota?

Answer:

Indeed this is true. We have had six consecutive years with above normal precipitation across the state, with 2016 being one of the wettest years in Minnesota history We have also recorded above normal rainfall in five of the past six growing seasons (May-September). So the patter of this year is following the trend.

Twin Cities Almanac for June 7th:

The average MSP high temperature for this date is 76 degrees F (plus or minus 9 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is 56 degrees F (plus or minus 8 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for June 7th:

MSP weather records for this date include: highest daily maximum temperature of 103 degrees F in 2011: lowest daily maximum temperature of 55 degrees F in 1901; lowest daily minimum temperature is 35 degrees F in 1998; highest daily minimum temperature of 78 degrees F in 2011; record precipitation of 2.91 inches in 1984; and no snow has fallen on this date.

Average dew point for June 7th is 54 degrees F, with a maximum of 72 degrees F in 1914 and a minimum of 30 degrees F in 1938.

All-time state records for June 7th:

The state record high temperature for this date is 103 degrees F at MSP (Hennepin County) and at Little Falls (Morrison County) in 2011. The state record low temperature for this date is 22 degrees F at Tower (St Louis County) in 1897. State record precipitation for this date is 4.33 inches at Springfield (Brown County) in 1962; and there has been no snowfall on this date.

Past Weather Features:

June 7, 1897 brought a frost morning to many parts of Minnesota. Morning lows were in the 20s F across portions of western and northern Minnesota. Resulting crop damage caused farmers to have to replant potatoes and corn.

A series of severe thunderstorms over June 5-8, 1941 brought flash flooding to many parts of the Red River Valley. Many climate stations reported 3-6 inches of rainfall. Portions of Pennington County received over 6 inches and many rural roads were closed due to flooding. A number of farm fields had to be replanted.

June 7, 1987 and 1988 brought back to back Heat Waves with temperatures in the 90s at most locations around the state. Both years were very dry as well so crops were put under drought stress early in both of those growing seasons.

Outlook:

Warm and sunny to start the weekend, then increasing cloudiness for Saturday night and Sunday with a chance for thunderstorms. Cooler temperatures Sunday and continuing much of next week with nighttime lows in the 40s and 50s F (good sleeping weather). Another chance for showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday.