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Two June Frosts in the North

Two June Frosts in the North:

After seeing widespread frosts across northern Minnesota on the second of June (many morning low temperatures in the 20s F), June 13th brought widespread temperature readings in the 30s F around the state, and delivered a second round of frosts to northern counties this week. Cotton, Celina, Crane Lake, Cook, Embarrass, Eveleth, Bigfork, Floodwood, Wright, Hibbing, Aitkin, and Cloquet climate stations all reported frost on Thursday morning.

This is a bit unusual in that places like Hibbing, Cotton, and Bigfork usually see one frost in the month of June, but not very often two or more frosts. Back in 1964 some northern climate stations reported 4 frosts during the month of June, while in June of 2004 Embarrass reported 11 frosts, probably a statewide record number.

Weekly Weather Potpourri:

This week NOAA announced that its flagship weather forecast model , the Global Forecast System (GFS) was given a significant upgrade to include a new dynamical core. This will provide improved forecasts of severe weather, winter storms, and tropical cyclone intensity and track. You can read more about this at the NOAA web site.


Additionally this week NOAA scientists issued a forecast for the Gulf of Mexico “dead zone” to expand and be larger than normal this summer. This hypoxic zone, mostly off the coast of Louisiana is the result of excess nutrient pollution from human activities, such as urbanization and agriculture, occurring throughout the Mississippi River watershed. It waxes and wanes in size each year, but is expected to be larger than normal in 2019 as a result of the excess of spring precipitation and high volume flows through the Mississippi River Basin.


This week the Minnesota DNR reported that streamflow conditions in May were similar to those of April with high volume flow in most watersheds of the southern two-thirds of the state. In addition eighty-four percent of gaged lakes showed May lake elevations above their average lake level of the entire historic record. Over 70% of these "above average" lakes reported lake elevations more than ½ foot higher than their average elevation. Thirty lakes reached their highest reported May lake level with locations in Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Martin, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pine, Pope, Swift, and Washington Counties.

MPR listener question:

With the reports of frosts this month in many areas of Minnesota, we were wondering what are the coldest temperatures ever measured in the state during June?

Answer:

Believe it or not, there have been two years when low temperatures in the teens F have been reported during the month of June. On June 1, 1964 observers at Wannaska, Cook, Bigfork , and Baudette reported morning lows ranging from 15°F to 19°F. Then on June 5, 1985 Remer (Cass County) reported a morning low of just 18°F. Suffice to say that gardeners were extremely disappointed with these temperatures.

Twin Cities Almanac for June 14th:


The average MSP high temperature for this date is 79 degrees F (plus or minus 9 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is 59 degrees F (plus or minus 7 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for June 14th:

MSP weather records for this date include: highest daily maximum temperature of 98 degrees F in 1987: lowest daily maximum temperature of 60 degrees F in 1917; lowest daily minimum temperature is 44 degrees F in 1927; highest daily minimum temperature of 73 degrees F in 1893; record precipitation of 2.48 inches in 1924; and no snow has fallen on this date.

Average dew point for June 14th is 56 degrees F, with a maximum of 74 degrees F in 1981 and a minimum of 33 degrees F in 1961.

All-time state records for June 14th:


The state record high temperature for this date is 105 degrees F at Montevideo (Chippewa County) in 1979. The state record low temperature for this date is 27 degrees F at Alborn (St Louis County) in 1927. State record precipitation for this date is 5.70 inches at Fosston (Polk County) in 1921; and no snowfall has occurred on this date.

Past Weather Features:


Many northern Minnesota climate stations reported frost on June 14, 1927 when it remained cold all day. The high temperature at Littlefork (Koochiching County) only made it to 53°F.

The hottest June 14th in state history was in 1979. Over 20 communities reported a daytime high of 100°F or greater.

June 12-16, 1983 saw a series of thunderstorms produce hail and heavy rains across much of Minnesota. Many areas reported 3 to 5 inches of rainfall with flash flooding in some areas. Portions of Stearns and Kandiyohi Counties reported over 4 inches of rainfall on the 14th, ruining a crop of freshly cut hay.

Outlook:


A cooler than normal weather pattern will remain in play throughout the weekend with a chance for showers and thunderstorms. Drier weather by Monday, but then a chance for showers and thunderstorms again Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures will remain cooler than normal much of next week.









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