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Updraft: June 25, 2009 Archive

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Twin Cities 90 degree days ahead of schedule

Posted at 7:55 AM on June 25, 2009 by Paul Huttner (0 Comments)

Astronomical summer beagn with heat in Minnesota.

We put together back to back 90 plus degree days with 94 and 95 in the metro Monday and Tuesday. Count them as days number 3 and 4 for 90 degree heat in the metro this year. We had two such days back in May.

The 4 days of 90 degree heat so far this year puts the metro slightly ahead of schedule this year. We average one 90 degree day in May, and 3 in June. To date, the average is 3 days, so were a plus one so far.

We may add to our total before the week is out. We have a shot at 90 today and 92 or hotter is likely Friday. That would put us at five or six 90 degree days for the year.

Minnesota river streamflow varies widely

With moderate to severe drought in the metro and eastern Minnesota you'd expect rivers and streams to be running low. What might surprise you is that some rivers in Minnesota are running high, or even in flood. One look at the Minnesota Stream Flow Report map this week and you can see the dry areas in the east. But what surprises some is that river are running high in southeast Minnesota and the far northwest.

We're also seeing some rivers and streams in flood near Moorhead feeding into the Red River, which is still above flood stage in some areas.

Cooler wetter weekend

We'll make another run at 90 today in the metro. Friday looks hot again, with a high of 92 to 94 degrees. Scattered storms return late Friday night and Saturday. It now appears Sunday may be breezy and much cooler. We may see a high only in the 70s Sunday, with spotty afternoon showers in central and northern Minnesota.

PH

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Mississippi River 'dead zone' largest ever

Posted at 3:32 PM on June 25, 2009 by Paul Huttner (0 Comments)

dead_zone_summer_web.jpg
Mississippi "Dead Zone" expected to be largest ever in the Gulf of Mexico this year.

It was a record spring for so called "nutrient runoff" from the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico. That has one scientist form the University of Michigan forecasting the biggest summer dead zone ever. As waters heat up in the Gulf, algae blooms create conditions that deprive areas on and near the bottom of critical oxygen. This condition is called hypoxia, and the lack of oxygen does not support marine life.

Researcher and aquatic ecologist Donald Scavia says the dead zone could reach 8,000 square miles. That's about the size of New Jersey.

4th warmest May globally

NOAA reports that May was the 4th warmest on record globally. Combined land and ocean temperatures were .95 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average.

ISS captures vocalic eruption in Russia

Talk about perfect timing. Check out this image captured by the International Space Station on June 12th. The ISS flew directly over the Sarychev Peak Volcano as it was erupting. The volcano is located in Russia's Kuril Islands, northeast of Japan.

volcano eruption.jpg

Forecast: Hot, then cooler and wetter this weekend.

Temperatures are pushing close to 90 in the metro again this afternoon. Look for another hot and sunny day Friday with a high of 93 in the metro. The next cool front will move in Friday night and Saturday, brining showers and thunderstorms. Sunday appears much cooler with a gusty northwest wind and highs only in the 70s in most of Minnesota.

PH

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