Minnesota WeatherTalk

Preliminary June Climate Summary: From a temperature standpoint, June did not generate many anomalies in Minnesota. Average monthly temperature will be close to normal for most climate stations in the state. Extremes across the state ranged from 94°F at several locations on the 12th and again on the 24th, to just 29°F at Brimson (St Louis County on the morning of the 10th. The real historical signature of this June climate will be the frequency and abundance of rainfall, which led to widespread flooding. Most climate stations reported rainfall on half of the days of the month, and some reported rainfall on up to 20 days. Total amounts of rainfall were well above normal for the month, and in many cases twice normal. Those geographic areas receiving the most surplus rainfall included northeastern counties, and all southern counties, especially those in south-central Minnesota. Within the statewide National Weather Service observer network over 70 new daily rainfall records were se...

Frequent and Heavy Rains Continue in June: This week was dominated again by widespread rainfall, and in some cases record-setting rains that produced minor to moderate flood warnings for portions of the Cottonwood River, Crow River, Minnesota River, and Mississippi River, as well as streams and creeks in northeastern Minnesota, including the Vermilion River near Crane Lake. Many observers have reported rainfall on 14-15 of the first 20 days this month. Dozens of new daily record rainfall amounts have been recorded so far this month within the state climate observation network. Many NOAA climate observers reported record-setting rainfalls on June 18-19. The heavy thunderstorms were associated with dew points in the 70s F, the highest of the year so far. Some of these rainfall amounts were close to all-time daily rainfall records for June, including: Brimson 5.18 inches Tower 4.60 inches Cook 5.10 inches Tettegouche State Park 5.02 inches Embarrass 4.33 inches Wolf Ridge 5.32 inches ...

Warm and Wet Weather Pattern to Dominate June: Warm and wet continue to be the climate trends through the first two weeks of June. Though there have been June frosts in portions of St Louis, Itasca, and Cook Counties in the north, most areas of the state are reporting average temperatures this month that range from 1°F to 3°F above normal. This week, climate observers in Redwood, Hubbard, Traverse, Chippewa, Big Stone, Lyon and Clay Counties reported afternoon high temperatures of 90°F or greater. Sabin and Marshall reported 94°F on Wednesday. There are indications from the forecast models that many locations may see more days in the 90s F next week. Another round of thunderstorms, some severe, passed across the state on June 12th. This time there were 23 reports of strong winds, with some gusts over 60 mph, and over 80 reports of large hail, especially in central and northern counties. There were many reports of two inch diameter hail, and in Cass County even a report of 2.5 in...

A Very Wet Start to June: June of 2024 has begun warmer than normal, but also much wetter than normal. A number of climate stations have reported measurable rainfall on each of the first 6 days of the month, and at least 20 climate observers have reported 4 or more inches of rainfall so far. This weather pattern follows a wetter than normal April and May which was the 4th wettest in state history. As a result, many soils are saturated, and according to USDA reports over 90 percent of the soils have adequate to surplus soil moisture stored. Some farmers have had to replant crops in some cases where fields have washed out. Thunderstorms brought 10 record-setting daily rainfalls to long-term climate stations in Minnesota on June 3rd. Some of these included: 2.22 inches at Artichoke Lake (Big Stone County) 2.88 inches to Theilman (Wabasha County) 2.57 inches to Delano (Wright County) 1.80 inches to Brainerd (Crow Wing County) With all the surplus rainfall over the past two months, the...