Updraft: May 27, 2009 Archive

Welcome rain soaks southeast Minnesota

Posted at 8:22 AM on May 27, 2009 by Paul Huttner

La Crosse radar storm total precipitation shows 1"+ rainfall for parts of Iowa, southeast Minnesota into Wisconsin.

So close, and yet so far.

A slow moving low pressure system in eastern Iowa this morning is bringing a good soaking rain south of the metro. Surface reports through 8 am confirm over an inch of rain at La Crosse (1.42") and around an inch at Rochester and Austin and Albert Lea. Doppler radar estimates over 2" in a band from north of Fort Dodge, Iowa to east of Mason City to a few miles east of La Crosse.

The rain comes as areas of the Upper Midwest are facing deepening drought conditions. Unfortunately for the metro, the southerly track of this system will keep the meaningful rains south of the area. Both the latest crop report and the U.S. Drought Monitor indicate the Twin Cities is at the epicenter of a growing drought.

Look for a cool, cloudy and breezy day today as the system exits the region. Sunshine and warmer temperatures will return tomorrow and last into the weekend. Temperatures will reach the upper 70's for the rest of the week.

It's great weather if you're a golfer or outdoor enthusiast. If you're a lawn, farm field or a tree, not so much. We need rain desperately in the Twin Cities.

The forecast models for the next two weeks keep the Upper Midwest in a northwest flow aloft. This is generally a dry flow for the region, with little in the way of widespread heavy rainfall. We'll be keeping an eye out for a pattern change to a southwest flow aloft which would bring deeper moisture from the Gulf of Mexico into the region. So far, it's not in sight.

PH

Twin Cities: 3rd driest May on record?

Posted at 5:33 PM on May 27, 2009 by Paul Huttner

May rainfall is over two inches below average in the Twin Cities area.

The Twin Cities just can't buy a drop of rain.

As another rain system makes a near miss on the Twin Cities, the drought numbers are starting to add up. If no measureable rain falls at Twin Cities Airport through Sunday this will go down as the third driest May in 118 years of records. A paltry .46" of rain has fallen this month.

A strong low pressure system is soaking areas south and east of the metro today. A slow steady rain is falling from northern Iowa through Rochester and to Eau Claire. Doppler rainfall estimates show a band of 1" to 2"+ fell in these areas.

A cool breezy cloudy weather regime on the back side of the system means temperatures about 20 degrees below average for much of Minnesota today. Our average high in the Twin Cities today is 74 degrees. As of 5pm today it is 54 in the Twin Cities.

The weather will warm considerably as sunshine will return temperatures back into the upper 70's this week. Enjoy the sun. I for one am hoping the chance for rain this weekend will increase. I'd sit on the porch and watch it rain this weekend than see my soil turn to powder for another week!

PH