July Starts Wet for Many Parts of Minnesota

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 pace.

Corrections to June Climate Summary:

Speaking of wet, for last month Rochester reported its 4th wettest June in history with 9.08”, Preston its 6th wettest with 9.27”, and Grand Meadow its 10th wettest June with 7.78”. Within the state climate observing network, 38 new daily rainfall records were set during the month of June, including a new all-time state record amount for June 28th of 5.99” at the climate station near Rochester Airport (breaking the old record of 3.60” at Moorhead back on June 28, 1897). And BTW the highest temperature for June anywhere in the state was 98°F at Hallock (Kittson County) on the 8th.

Weekly Weather Potpourri:

There is an interesting article in the current issue of the MinnesotaConservation Volunteer Magazine about the changing climate in and around Lake Superior by Amanda Kueper. Recent trends in water temperature as well as atmospheric temperature are symptoms of climate change and will have profound consequences.

NOAA released earlier this week a graphical analysis of state by state (even county by county) temperature and precipitation patterns for the past 125 years. Each graphic illustrates the departures from normal for individual years.



New research finds that irrigated farms within Wisconsin's vegetable-growingCentral Sands region significantly cool the local climate compared to nearby rain-fed farms or forests. Irrigated farms generally experienced a three- to seven-degree smaller range in daily temperatures compared to other land uses.

The Weather Channel reported this week that July 4th brought all-time record warmth to parts of Alaska. The following were all-time high temperatures for these Alaska communities:

Kenai 89°F; King Salmon 89°F; Palmer 88°F; Homer 78°F, and Anchorage 90°F The reading at Anchorage was the first time 90 degrees F has been measured.

MPR listener question:

Along with many neighbors we were trying to celebrate July 4th between rainfalls yesterday out in Lyon County around Marshall. Made us wonder what was the wettest ever July 4th holiday?

Answer:

The wettest July 4th in state history was in 1995 when Milan (Chippewa County) reported 9.78” of rain from strong thunderstorms, causing widespread flash flooding. Twelve counties reported over 3.5 inches of rain that day. In July of 1995 Milan ended up receiving 13.35 inches of rainfall.

Twin Cities Almanac for July 5th:

The average MSP high temperature for this date is 83 degrees F (plus or minus 7 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is 64 degrees F (plus or minus 6 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for July 5th:

MSP weather records for this date include: highest daily maximum temperature of 100 degrees F in 1982: lowest daily maximum temperature of 66 degrees F in 1905; lowest daily minimum temperature is 45 degrees F in 1972; highest daily minimum temperature of 79 degrees F in 2012; record precipitation of 1.62 inches in 1994; and no snow has fallen on this date.

Average dew point for July 5th is 59 degrees F, with a maximum of 77 degrees F in 1949 and a minimum of 40 degrees F in 1972.

All-time state records for July 5th:

The state record high temperature for this date is 108 degrees F at Pipestone (Pipestone County) in 1936. The state record low temperature for this date is 27 degrees F at Embarrass (St Louis County) in 2001. State record precipitation for this date is 6.25 inches at Albert Lea (Freeborn County) in 1943; and there has been no snowfall on this date.

Past Weather Features:

A line of strong thunderstorms brought heavy rains to southeaster Minnesota over July 5-6, 1978. All or portions of 8 counties received 2 to 5 inches of rainfall causing widespread flash floods. Rochester received 6.74 inches, flooding most of the downtown streets. It was the first of two flash floods in Rochester that year, with another 6 inch rain coming over September 12-13.

July 5, 1988 brought a very hot day to Minnesota. Most places saw afternoon highs reach the 90s F, and 20 climate stations reported a reading of 100°F or greater.

Conversely, July 5, 2001 brought widespread frost to northern Minnesota, as climate stations in St Louis County, Beltrami County and Morrison County reported morning low temperatures in the upper 20s to low 30s F.

Outlook:

Cooler than normal temperatures will dominate the weekend which will mostly be dry. Temperatures will warm back up to near normal Monday and continue in that pattern for much of next week, but with chances for widely scattered showers and thunderstorms beginning late Monday and running through Wednesday. Warmer yet by next weekend.