Updraft: April 27, 2009 Archive

After dark

Posted at 6:27 AM on April 27, 2009 by Craig Edwards

While we experienced temperatures mainly in the 40s throughout the daylight on Sunday, a warm front nudged into the region after dark, giving the Twin Cities a high for the day of 62 degrees. That might be the best we can do for a high temperature this week, with perhaps a repeat on Tuesday.

Beneficial rains fell on southeast Minnesota, with more than three quarters of an inch of moisture from St. Cloud to Rochester, including a lare swath of the metro.

Seasonal or cooler temperatures are likely this week. The milder air is confined to far southern Minnesota. On Thursday we should be able to locate a warm front from Red Wood Falls to Red Wing. This will likely be the most favored for additional rainfall.

CE

Fickle spring

Posted at 4:01 PM on April 27, 2009 by Paul Huttner

A cream of mushroom soup sky hangs over swollen Chinese Lilac buds at the Huttner Weather Lab today.

Call me sentimental.

Our rainy Sunday was just what the doctor ordered for lawns, trees fields and my weather psyche. Was it just my imagination, or could you actually see the lawn getting greener as the rain fell Sunday? It was a nice break to just sit and watch the rain patter on the Weather Lab driveway and watch the grass grow. The ferns and hostas seem to rejoice by sending up new green shoots.

Sunday's soaker graced us with a much needed inch of rain in parts of the metro. The airport recorded .81" officially. Metro totals ranged from about .70" to 1.18" in Prior Lake.

For once the heaviest rains fell in the areas that need it most. Much of Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota remain in drought status. An inch of rain won't wipe away a drought, but 2" to 6" will. That's how much rain fell from Rochester to La Crosse and in parts of southwest Wisconsin and northeast Iowa over the weekend. That's good news for those areas, but it comes with a small price. There is some minor river flooding after the deluge.

After a grey Monday look for a spectacular classic Tuesday with bright sunshine, light winds and a high of 62 in the metro. Things turn unsettled again Wednesday and Thursday as a wetter pattern sets in. It looks like we may be dry and cool Friday, with another nice day Saturday before the next rain system makes a move on us late Sunday.

Enjoy Tuesday's bright sun!

PH