Updraft: June 22, 2009 Archive

Lightning Awareness Week

Posted at 7:13 AM on June 22, 2009 by Craig Edwards (1 Comments)

No matter what uniform you wear, or whether you are in the big leagues or little league, lightning can be a killer. So far fifteen people have been killed by lightning in the USA. In 2008, twenty-eight people, nearly 80 percent male were killed by lightning. Play it safe follow NOAA safety rules.

There were about a half dozen reports of brief tornado touchdowns in south central Minnesota last evening in Faribault and Freeborn Counties. Minnesota Lake also was drenched with four and half inches of rain. Last nights storm reports from NWS Chanhassen.

The heaviest rain once again bypassed most of the Metro. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain fell in the past twenty-four hours at the International Airport. Alexandria tallied about an inch with about two thirds of an inch at St. Cloud. For 2009 only a little more than seven inches of moisture has accumulated at Minneapolis/St. Paul. How about more than 25 inches of precipitation in Chicago so far this year!

Radar estimated rainfall, click on storm total

Very warm and sultry weather will begin the first week of summer. Afternoon heating could trigger thunderstorms, particularly Tuesday and Wednesday. Play it safe if you are on the course or the lake during thunderstorms.

CE

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Forecast: The heat is on

Posted at 2:58 PM on June 22, 2009 by Paul Huttner (1 Comments)

Heat index map shows triple digit heat in the central U.S. today.

It had to come sooner or later.

A building heat wave in the central U.S. has air conditioners humming in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. Temperatures will hit 90+ in the Twin Cities for the third time this year today. I expect we will to out between 93 and 95 today, and it may be as hot as 96 to 98 degrees Tuesday.

Heat advisories are in effect for at least 16 states today from Iowa and Wisconsin to the Gulf of Mexico. Here is a sample of some Midwest temperatures at 3pm today.

-Twin Cities 91 degrees; heat index 96 degrees.
-Des Moines 93 degrees; heat index 101 degrees.
-St. Louis 96 degrees; heat index 105 degrees.
-Kansas City 93 degrees; heat index 109 degrees. Dew point 78 degrees!

The heat index combines the effect of heat and humidity to calculate the "feels like" temperature on the body.

These are dangerous conditions even for people in good physical condition. A weak puff of Canadian air will feel a little cooler and less humid starting on Wednesday, but we may return to 90 on Friday. The early look at the weekend appears warm & dry with highs in the mid 80's Saturday and near 90 Sunday.

Take it easy in the heat this week!

PH

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