Updraft: May 15, 2008 Archive

Dead bang on average

Posted at 6:56 AM on May 15, 2008 by Paul Huttner

As our cool spring fades gradually toward summer it is interesting to note that by some measures we are pretty close to an average Minnesota spring.

It surprised me a little bit to find after checking this morning that our last 32 degree reading at Twin Cities Airport was on April 29th when we dipped to 30 degrees. That's dead on average for that location. In fact the coolest temperature we've recorded since then was 37 back on May 2nd.

Median frost dates

Last year our last frost in the spring was on April 14th, which gave us a long growing season over 190 days. The average is 160 days.

Looking ahead, I'd say there is at least a 70% chance we have seen our last frost in the metro. There is a chance we'll se some cool mornings around here near Memorial Day weekend, but then the pattern looks much warmer in about 14 days as the big bad James Bay polar vortex breaks down and shifts east.

It is interesting to see how weather forecasts have "warmed up" a bit over the past few days to include the prospect for 70 degree highs. There were a whole bunch of 68 or 69 degree forecasts until yesterday. Perhaps that old Minnesota "forecaster group think" reared its head again.

Let's see if we hit 70 over the next 3 days.

As the jet stream lifts ever so slightly to our north and east, we will enjoy more sun, less wind, and slightly milder temps.

PH

Sneaking up on you

Posted at 1:35 PM on May 15, 2008 by Craig Edwards

We continue to gain daylight and. thank goodness a little more warmth as we move through May. Sunshine is a strong today as it is in late July. You can get quite a burn exposing yourself to the sun's rays, particularly from 11 am to 2 pm when the sun is most overhead.

I've heard it reported that you can get a sun burn even on days without bright sunshine. From my own experience, as a youth, I experienced a blistering sun burn on a day at the lake when there seemed to be a hazy overcast. If you can make out even a faint shadow you are likely getting exposure to the damaging rays of the sun.

Over the years, my fair skin has been the victim of over-doing it in the sunshine. I've had a couple of spots of basal cell skin cancer removed from my face and shoulders.

This morning I applied an SPF-30 on my arms, legs and face about twenty minutes before heading out to work in the yard. And I always wear a hat. You can follow the forecast of the UV index by book-marking the Web site included here.

Being sun wise

Play it safe; damage from the sun can have long term implications.
CE