Minnesota WeatherTalk

Preliminary Climate Summary for July of 2022: July of 2022 was a warmer than normal month across most of Minnesota. Most climate observers report an average monthly temperature that ranges from 1°F to 2.5°F above normal. Extremes for the month ranged from 100°F at Granite Falls on the 18th to a morning low of 36°F at Embarrass on the 2nd. Although most July record high values of maximum and minimum temperature date from the 1930s in Minnesota a few climate stations set new daily record maximum temperature values this month, including Theilman (Wabasha County) on July 19th with a reading of 99°F. Some record warm nighttime values of temperature were reported as well, including a reading of 78°F pre-dawn at Baudette on July 20th. Minnesota did not report the nation’s lowest temperature even once during the month. In terms of rainfall, July brought mostly below average values, but some portions of northwestern, northeastern, and southeastern Minnesota saw above normal accumulations.

Drought Expands: A few areas of northwestern and southeastern Minnesota benefitted from significant rainfall earlier this week in the form of strong thunderstorms. Some climate stations reported from 1 to 2 inches of rainfall. Ottertail reported a record 1.76 inches on July 17th, while portions of Kittson County (extreme northwestern corner of MN) reported 1.5 to 3 inches on July 20th. But these amounts were exceptional for the week. Most places in the state reported less than 1 inch, and some areas less than a half inch of rainfall for the week. The widespread sparse rainfall around the state combined with the warmer than normal temperatures brought more stress to crops and expanded the drought area within the state of Minnesota. The July 18th crop reported showed a decline, with 68 percent of the state corn crop in good to excellent condition and only 62 percent of the state soybean crop in good to excellent condition. Two weeks ago these numbers were between 80 and 90 percent.

Moderate Drought Emerging: According to this week’s US Drought Monitor portions of nine east-central counties in Minnesota (mostly the Twin Cities Metro Area and extending southwest towards Mankato) are now designated to be in Moderate Drought. Many climate stations in this area of the state are reporting total precipitation for the year so far that is 3 to 5 inches less than normal. Some areas around St Peter, Chaska, and Mankato are more than 6 inches behind normal. Bear in mind too, that this follows a drier than normal year in Minnesota (2021). Though the USDA Agricultural Statistics Service reports that over 80 percent of Minnesota crop production soils are still showing adequate to surplus stored soil moisture, Minnesota crop conditions have declined somewhat. With 66 percent of the state corn crop in good to excellent condition and 63 percent of the state soybean crop in good to excellent condition. NOAA Climate Prediction Center outlooks continue to favor warmer than norma

Spotty Rainfall Pattern This Month: July has begun with generally warmer than normal temperatures over much of the state, and several days with dew points in the sticky upper 60s F or low 70s F. Rainfall has been below normal in most areas of the state, but some have seen heavy thunderstorms deliver over 2 inches of rain through the first week of the month. The heaviest rains occurred over several southern counties near the Iowa border, though there were some significant rainfalls (over 1 inch) in north-central and northeastern counties as well. Some record rainfalls for July 5th included: 3.16 inches at Worthington 2.40 inches at Kabetogama 1.91 inches at Austin 1.33 inches at Owatonna 1.30 inches at Spring Valley Then on July 6th some other long term climate stations reported record rainfalls as well, including: 3.35 inches at Bricelyn 2.80 inches at Worthington 2.16 inches at Blue Earth 2.09 inches at Hokah 1.80 inches at St James According to the U.S. Drought Monitor all or part

June Climate Summary: June was uniformly warmer than normal across the state, breaking the cooler trend that dominated most of the first 5 months of the year. Average monthly temperatures ranged from 1°F to 4°F across the state. A few places in the far north like International Falls reported a mean monthly temperature that was very close to normal. Extremes for the month ranged from 102°F at St James (Watonwan County), Sabin (Clay County), and Crookston (Polk County) on June 20th to 29°F at Celina (St Louis County) on June 5th. The reading at Celina was the coldest in the nation for that date. With the warmer than normal temperatures on most days, there were 91 daily record high maximum temperatures reported in the Minnesota climate station network, and 98 daily record warm minimum temperatures reported (several nights in the 70s F). Interestingly enough, on June 5th, Grand Marais reported a daily high of only 47°F which was a record cold maximum temperature for the date. As for June r