Updraft: July 17, 2008 Archive

Usually we don't ask for rain, but things are getting a little crispy around the edges these days.

Since our weather pattern changed for the drier on about June 17th, we are showing a rainfall deficit of anywhere between 2 and 4 inches for much of central and southern Minnesota.

Our fickle summer front has been finicky the past 24 hours. Storms fired north and east of the metro dumping heavy rain in parts of Wisconsin. Heavy storms dumped record rainfall on La Crosse with 2.5" of rain!

Our best hope for rain in the metro comes today with an advancing cold front from eastern South Dakota. An organized cluster of showers and thunderstorms shows promise of holding together and making the trip through southwest Minnesota this morning, and reaching the metro before lunchtime.

These storms also have the potential to produce hail and high winds.

Sioux Falls radar loop

Twin Cities radar loop

Lucky winners could see up to an inch of much needed rainfall with the front today.

HPC day 1 rainfall

Let's hope so, I don't want to have to go and water Kerri Miller's daisies today. I promised her rain with the passage of this weather system, and this looks like the best and last shot until later in the weekend!

PH