Minnesota WeatherTalk

After a week of temperatures that averaged 5-10 degrees warmer than normal with dew points in the 70s F (even some 80°F dew points), temperatures fell back to a few degrees cooler than normal much of this week, with much low dew points and humidity. It was a sharp contrast to the near record-setting Heat Index Values that occurred last Friday (July 19th) when many portions of the state experienced Heat Index Values of 110°F or greater. Also for at least a few days, there was some relief from the heavy rainfalls of this month. Believe it or not, some portions of Dodge, Goodhue, and Blue Earth Counties have reported over 11 inches of rain this month. At least 24 other southern Minnesota climate stations have reported over 8 inches of rainfall so far this month, and so far this month 35 climate stations in the state network have reported setting or tying at least one daily rainfall record. You can read more about this change in the weather from the Minnesota State Climatology Offic...

High Water Vapor Content and Heavy Rains So far this month within the state climate observing network 30 new daily rainfall records have been set with many 4-5 inch amounts. Dew points have been above 70 degrees F on many days (approximately 100 hours at MSP), so Heat Index Values around the state have varied this week from 95°F to 107°F. All of this water vapor has been abundant fuel for thunderstorms all month long. Over 130 climate stations report 4 or more inches of rain for the month, while at least 80 climate stations report over 5 inches. A few places have seen over 8 inches. Yet some parts of the far northern counties remain dry, with less than 1 inch of rain so far this month. Portions of Olmsted, Dodge, Houston, and Steele Counties in southeastern Minnesota have already reported over 30 inches for the year so far and are on pace to set new annual precipitation records. For example Rochester has reported 32.72 inches of precipitation this year, through July 17th, and th...

A Wet Week in Many Places: Monday, July 8th brought record-setting rainfall to the Washington, D.C. area where Ronald Reagan Airport set a new daily record of 3.44 inches. Wallops Island, VA reported 3.26 inches, and Hagerstown, MD reported 2.71 inches. Flash flooding and street closures were common that day throughout the D.C. Metro Area. Over July 8-9, 2019 many parts of northwestern Minnesota reported record or near record thunderstorm rainfall. Fargo, ND set a record with 2.20 inches, while across the border in Minnesota Georgetown (Clay County) reported a record 4.47 inches, Hallock (Kittson County) a record 3.58 inches, and Thief River Falls (Pennington County) a record 2.31 inches. Elsewhere places like Moorhead, Fergus Falls, New York Mills, Detroit Lakes, and Ottertail all reported over 2 inches. Then on July 10th (Wednesday) bands of clouds associated with the formation of Tropical Storm Barry in the Gulf of Mexico brought 3-4 inch rains to portions of Louisiana, flo...

July Starts Wet for Many Parts of Minnesota: Thunderstorms dominated the last few days of June and the first few days of July. Heavy rains crossed a number of Minnesota counties over the first week of July, bringing over 2.5 inches to at least 60 climate stations. Redwood Falls has already reported over 5 inches for the month, while Milan, Artichoke Lake, and Northfield have reported over 4.5 inches. A number of climate stations reported new daily rainfall records for July 1st including: Redwood Falls with 5.15”, Milan with 4.50”, Bird Island with 4.14”, Canby with 3.10”, Artichoke Lake with 2.73”, Dawson with 2.70”, and Minneota with 2.67”. Then on July 2nd Windom reported a new daily record rainfall of 2.78” and Spring Valley a new daily record of 1.45”. And finally on July 4th, Browns Valley (Traverse County) reported a new daily record rainfall with 2.10 inches. For the year to date, both Rochester and Owatonna have reported over 30 inches of precipitation, a record-setting ...