Updraft: May 21, 2009 Archive

Memorial Day Weekend Outlook: Above average

Posted at 8:45 AM on May 21, 2009 by Paul Huttner

Meteorologists in Minnesota know there are a few critical forecasts. You better get these mostly right, or risk the wrath of restless natives who have all too few opportunities to enjoy our great outdoors. Memorial Day, 4th of July, State Fair, Labor Day and the first snowstorm are the biggies.

So with pen in hand and a prayer for forecast skill and a little luck, here goes.

Friday: Partly to mostly sunny. Showers far north. High 70 metro, 60's north.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High 73 metro, 60's north.
Sunday: Mostly sunny east, showers possible west. High 77 metro, 68 north.
Memorial Day: A chance of scattered showers. High 76 metro, 66 north.

High pressure to our northeast will genrally mean an east to southeast wind this weekend. It should be on the lighter side, generally between 5 and 15 mph. That will mean cooler temperatures in the 40's along the North Shore this weekend.

Keep up with the latest forecast changes here:

-Twin Cities forecast
-Duluth and northeast Minnesota
-Fargo and northwest Minnesota
-Sioux Falls area
-La Crosse, Rochester, southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa
-Upper Michigan

All in all a pretty decent weekend. Enjoy!

PH

Extreme temperature swing slams Duluth

Posted at 4:55 PM on May 21, 2009 by Paul Huttner (1 Comments)

Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center webcam shows a bright blue sky over Duluth Wednesday.

You can understand why residents along Duluth's lakefront were a little
"weather confused" Wednesday. They felt one of the most rapid temperature swings in Duluth history.

In just 20 minutes the temperature at Duluth's Sky Harbor Airport near the lake rose 40 degrees. The thermometer shot from 46 to 86 at 5pm. The temperature peaked at 88 degrees a few minutes later, and then plunged back to 45 within an hour.

As warm air surged into the Duluth area Wednesday, near the lake winds blew from the northeast off the frigid waters of Lake Superior. At 5pm the temperature at Duluth International Airport on top of the hill reached 88 degrees. Near the lake at Sky Harbor, it was 46 degrees, a difference of 42 degrees. Suddenly the warm southwest winds overcame the chilly lake breeze, and gusts of wind over 40 mph came rushing down the hill toward the lake. That's when the temperature spiked 40 degrees at the lakefront.

Keep in mind the average dirunal variation (the difference between the average daily high and low) for Duluth Wednesday is 23 degrees. That's 23 degrees in about 12 hours. Duluth did 40 degrees in 20 minutes.

The roller coaster temperature ride did not end there. Within an hour, winds again turned off the lake and the temperature dropped 43 degrees.

Here are the readings from Sky Harbor Wednesday. Observation time, wind, and temperature are in bold.

May 20 18:14 N 12 10.00 Fair CLR 45 39 29.60 NA
May 20 17:54 NW 7 G 35 10.00 Fair CLR 72 43 29.59 NA
May 20 17:34 SW 28 G 36 7.00 Fair and Windy CLR 88 43 29.57 NA
May 20 17:14SW 31 G 43 7.00 Fair and Windy CLR 86 45 29.58 NA
May 20 16:54 NE 9 10.00 Fair CLR 46 41 29.60 NA

This make take some digging, but this could be the most rapid temperature swing in Minnesota history. I know it's the biggest swing I've ever seen.

There's an old saying in Minnesota. "If you don't like the weather just wait 15 minutes." Wednesday in Duluth shows just how crazy Minnesota weather can be.

PH

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