Updraft: June 10, 2008 Archive

Going Green

Posted at 8:10 AM on June 10, 2008 by Craig Edwards

There is a silver lining to the cool and overall damp spring and early summer in Minnesota. The fire danger is low. Only three days have reached 80 degrees or warmer in the Twin Cities so far this year. The landscape is plenty green, but we need some heat to accelerate the growth of crops and gardens.
Minnesota fire danger

A summer's worth of rain fell on portions of Iowa, southeast Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana in the past week. See some of the precipitation reports out of Wisconsin that confirm the flood images coming out from near the Dells.

Rainfall in southern Wisconsin over the weekend

The meteorological summer began on June 1 and excessive heat continues for at least one more day in the east, where temperatures have climbed to 100 degrees at Macon Georgia and 96 in New York City.

Meanwhile a warm front will try and push its way into southern Minnesota early Wednesday. This will set the stage for showers and strong thunderstorms into Thursday.

Grahpical forecast for Wednesday

CE

Not really summer in the Northwest, but look at the Mid-Atlantic

Posted at 12:15 PM on June 10, 2008 by Mark Seeley

Reports from National Weather Service Offices in the northwest got my attention today. Eastern Washington (Spokane), Idaho, western Wyoming, and Montana offices have issued snow advisories and heavy snow warnings for higher elevations. A strong low pressure system coupled with a northern jet stream that is bringing colder air from high latitudes have produced a March-like disturbed weather system for that area. Those visiting Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks today are likely to be greeted by snow, while at least a few inches of accumulation is likely at higher elevations in the mountains. This is all the residue of colder air masses persisting at high latitudes this year. You can read more from the various regional weather service offices.

Spokane
Missoula
Riverton

Contrast these conditions with those in the Mid-Atlantic states that are under a heat advisory today. Residents in MD, VA, NC, DE, and NJ will have to put up with air temperatures in the 90s F, dewpoints in the 70s F, and Heat Index values ranging from 100 to 115 degrees F!