Climate Summary for July 2024

Climate Summary for July 2024:

Wednesday, July 31 brought some strong thunderstorms across the state, delivering some widespread heavy rains. Some were record-setting. A few examples:

4.10 inches at Theilman
3.27 inches at Owatonna
3.11 inches at Wells
2.82 inches at Austin
2.60 inches at Faribault
2.04 inches at Albert Lea
2.03 inches at Lamberton

Since these heavy rains occurred in the evening and overnight, many of these amounts will be logged for August 1st rather than for July 31st.

From a temperature standpoint the average monthly temperature was very close to normal in most areas of Minnesota, expect the far north where it was 2° to 3°F above normal. All areas of the state reported fewer than nomal 90°F days. Extremes ranged from 94°F at Brainerd on July 27th to 36°F at Kabetogama on July 2nd.

Even though there were few 90°F days, the National Weather Service had to issue Heat Advisories on several days during the month, because of dew points in the 70s F. These dewpoints of 70°F occurred on July 13, 14, 15, 26, 27, 28, 29,30, and 31. In fact on July 26th and July 31st some climate stations reported dew points of 80°F or greater. These 80°F dew points combined with temperatures in the upper 80s F to low 90s F produced some unusually high Heat Index values in western and southern Minnesota. Some examples:

July 26, Fergus Falls (Otter Tail County) Heat Index 112°F
July 26, Madison (Lac Qui Parle County) Heat Index 114°F
July 31, St James (Watonwan County) Heat Index 105°F
July 31, Tracy (Lyon County) Heat Index 105°F

From a rainfall perspective, most areas of the state reported a wetter than normal month of July, except for north-central and northeastern counties, which were drier than normal. Areas of northeaster Minnesota received only about half of normal July rainfall.

Within the statewide climate network, over 30 stations reported July rainfall totals of 6 inches or greater. At least 31 new daily rainfall records were reported from the network of climate stations, including many amounts over 2 inches.

With the additions of this July rainfall the state remains on a pace to record its wettest year in history (since 1895 when statewide records started), as the average precipitation for the year across the state is just under 22 inches. Over 50 official climate stations have reported greater than 30 inches of precipitation so far this year, and Wells (Faribault County) has reported over 40 inches (40.07 inches), just in the first 7 months of the year.

Weekly Weather Potpourri:

Canada’s CBC reported this week that the glaciers in Jasper and other parts of Alberta are melting at an alarming rate, partially enhanced by the deposition of ash and soot from wildfires which allows the ice to absorb more solar radiation. Researchers say melting glaciers in Western Canada could disrupt the flow of glacier-fed rivers, impacting water supply and hydroelectric power generation in the region.

This week’s AGU-EOS Bulletin features an article about the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires. It is based on some research published in journal Nature, Ecology, and Evolution. Based on 21 years of satellite data, the past six years have been the most extreme years for wildfires globally, with worsening occurrences mostly in boreal and temperature conifer biomes

MPR listener question:

We have been Morning Edition listeners for years and recall you and Cathy talking many times about the coldest places in the state of Minnesota (Embarrass, Tower, and Brimson among other places). But we are wondering, what are most commonly the warmest places in the state?

Answer:

Good question. More often than not, the warmest temperatures for the day are from southwestern or west-central counties, including places like Browns Valley, Milan, Montevideo, Canby, Granite Falls, and Madison. Many of these places more commonly report temperatures of 100°F in the summer than other locations in the state.

Sometimes in the winter season the warmest temperatures are reported from southern locations like Fairmont, Luverne, Caledonia, or Winona where there is little or no snow cover. Believe it or not in some years with little snow cover, temperatures have reached 70°F in parts of Minnesota in all months but January. It came close on January 24 of 1981 when in the absence of snow cover Montevideo reached 69°F!

Twin Cities Almanac for August 2nd:

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 65 degrees F (plus or minus 6 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for August 2nd:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 99 degrees F in 1988; lowest daily maximum temperature of 59 degrees F in 1915; lowest daily minimum temperature of 46 degrees F in 1971; highest daily minimum temperature of 80 degrees F in 1955, and record precipitation of 2.69 inches in 2006. No snowfall has occurred on this date.

Average dew point for August 2nd is 60°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 79°F in 1955 and the minimum dew point on this date is 39 degrees F in 1927.

All-time state records for August 2nd:

The state record high temperature for this date is 106 degrees F at Beardsley (Big Stone County) in 1958. The state record low temperature for this date is 28 degrees F at Tower (St Louis County) in 1977. The state record precipitation for this date is 7.03 inches at Agassiz Wildlife Refuge (Marshall County) in 1964. There has been no snowfall on this date.

Past Weather:

August 1st of 1953 brought strong thunderstorms to central Minnesota where 3-5 inches of rain fell in a matter of hours, flooding farm fields and closing many roads. It was the beginning of a very wet month of August when some climate stations reported 7 to 11 inches of rainfall for the month.

High pressure and clear skies brought cool morning low temperatures to northern Minnesota on August 2nd of 1977. Many climate stations reported record low temperatures in the 30s F. At Tower (St Louis County) it dipped to just 28°F.

By far the warmest August 2nd in history was in 1988 when climate stations in 23 Minnesota counties reported afternoon temperatures of 100°F or greater. The nighttime low temperature at Stillwater was a very uncomfortable 81°F.

Outlook:

Warmer than normal over the weekend with a chance for showers and thunderstorms late in the day on Saturday. Better chance for showers on Sunday and into Monday. Showers and thunderstorms will be more widespread and longer lasting on Monday, as a cooler air mass moves in. Temperatures will cool to below normal values for Monday through Thursday next week, with slight chances for showers each day.