Updraft: July 21, 2009 Archive

Welcome rain

Posted at 8:30 AM on July 21, 2009 by Paul Huttner (0 Comments)

Doppler storm total rainfall map shows an inch of much needed rainfall in some areas overnight.

A slow moving cold front triggered a band of welcome rainfall overnight.

It won't end the drought, but by the looks of the garden here at the Huttner Weather Lab, it's better than nothing.

As is typical with summertime rainfall, amounts are highly variable around the region. There's even a big variation in the metro. This happens because convective cells are embedded within the overall rain area. If you're lucky enough to get under a convective rain burst, you get more rain. That's what happened to lucky folks in parts of Eden Prairie and Minnetonka overnight where over an inch fell.

Here are some amounts from the metro as of 8 am this morning, with rain still falling in some areas.

MSP Airport .24"
St Paul .36"
Blaine .41"
Crystal .36"
Deephaven (Huttner) .48"
Eden Prairie (Edwards) 1.18"

Amounts also show a wide variation around Minnesota this morning.

Redwood Falls .08"
St. Cloud .69"
Mankato .17"
Brainerd .67"
Duluth .85"

Doppler rainfall estimates show as much as 2 inches may have fallen southwest of Lake Mille Lacs.

Hopefully your lawn will appreciate the rain today. This morning's rain will have to do for a while. It appears our next opportunity for showers will come Friday. The weekend looks a bit cooler with highs in the 70s and mostly dry after Saturday morning.

There are signs of heat building in again late next week into the weekend. That's August 1st, and the medium range forecast models are hinting at temperatures close to 90 to start the month of August. Stay tuned, and keep the air conditioner tuned up.

PH

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Severe thunderstorm warnings now in metro

Posted at 3:14 PM on July 21, 2009 by Paul Huttner (0 Comments)

A slow moving cold front is taking its sweet time moving through Minnesota today. That's good news if you'd like some more rain. Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms are developing and moving along the front.

Look for storms to move toward the southeast as the day wears on. Widespread severe weather is not expected, but there will be a few severe thunderstorm warnings this afternoon. The primary threat is large hail, but there may also be some high winds in some of the stronger cells.

The storms will bring more welcome rainfall to areas that are lucky enough to see one pass overhead. We've not seen many of these days this summer. For a weatherman it's nice to see slow moving scattered storms on the radar.

Keep an eye to the west and northwest as you plan your evening activities. And keep the umbrella handy!

PH

Severe weather updates here:
MPX: 1 E St Paul Park [Washington Co, MN] fire dept/rescue reports HAIL of golf ball size (M1.75 INCH) at 04:53 PM CDT -- reported at intesection of highway 61 and glen rd

4:46pm: Doppler storm total rainfall indicating over 2" rainfall in Woodbury. Some of this may be from hail, but I would not be surprised to see localised flooding in and near Woodbury. PH

MPX: Watertown [Carver Co, MN] law enforcement reports HAIL of quarter size (M1.00 INCH) at 04:30 PM CDT --

MPX: Dayton [Hennepin Co, MN] trained spotter reports HAIL of penny size (M0.75 INCH) at 04:19 PM CDT --

MPX: 1 Ene Rogers [Hennepin Co, MN] trained spotter reports HAIL of penny size (M0.75 INCH) at 04:06 PM CDT -- at county rd 13 and 144

MPX: 3 N Elk River [Sherburne Co, MN] trained spotter reports HAIL of penny size (M0.75 INCH) at 03:53 PM CDT --

MPX: 1 Nw Buffalo [Wright Co, MN] trained spotter reports HAIL of penny size (M0.75 INCH) at 03:45 PM CDT --

MPX: 5 Sw Monticello [Wright Co, MN] trained spotter reports HAIL of marble size (M0.50 INCH) at 03:41 PM CDT --

MPX: 2 Ese Duelm [Sherburne Co, MN] public reports HAIL of quarter size (M1.00 INCH) at 03:00 PM CDT -- garden shredded

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