Updraft: August 6, 2009 Archive

Forecast: Warm front

Posted at 8:14 AM on August 6, 2009 by Paul Huttner

NOAA rainfall forecast hints at thunderstorms Friday.

We're due.

A warm front is pushing toward Minnesota over the next 24 hours. It appears the front will move in late tonight and Friday. As it does, thunderstorms could fire along the leading edge of warm sultry higher dew point air.

The best chance for storms appears to be in southwest Minnesota late this evening, and into the metro by early Friday morning. The computers are hinting at a half inch of rainfall, and higher amounts under stronger storms. Let's hope this forecast works out for drought parched areas.

The front will stall near the Twin Cities this weekend. If the front slides just north of us, expect heat to build in Saturday and Sunday. It looks like we could be close to 90 degrees both Saturday and Sunday in the metro. Temperatures will be a little cooler north toward St. Cloud, a little hotter into the lower 90s south near the Iowa border.

The overall weather pattern still looks warm next two weeks. Many days in the upper 80s to 90s appear possible as we move through the "dog days" into mid and late August. Could we se a State Fair cooker this year? I'm betting on at least one or more 90 degree days during the State Fair run.

Look in the southeast sky after 9pm tonight for a delightful sky show.
The just past full moon and brilliant Jupiter will be close in the southeast sky tonight.

PH

Warm & thundery

Posted at 3:44 PM on August 6, 2009 by Paul Huttner (1 Comments)

Twin Cities NWS weather story paints a warmer wetter picture for the next few days.

We're watching the pot.

A warm front is gliding toward the Twin Cities.

Showers and thunderstorms are riding the frontal boundary as it moves northeast. To the south of the front a steamy air mass will make a move on southern Minnesota this weekend.

Right now, the best chance for showers and storms appears to be overnight and into Friday morning for the metro. The front may slide just north of us Friday afternoon, bringing some sunny breaks and a tropical air mass that feels more like summer.

There is an opportunity for some decent rainfall early Friday for much of Minnesota. If the front stays active, we could see some half to one inch totals around the region.

It appears the front will linger near the Twin Cities this weekend. That should mean a warmer more humid summer like pattern. South of the front temperatures will be near 90 with dew points in the upper 60s to near 70 degrees. An upper wave could trigger another round of storms Saturday.

Keep an eye on the sky and an ear to the weather radio this weekend. There is a slight rick for severe weather.

Enjoy the warm up!

PH

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