Updraft: August 11, 2009 Archive

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Root beer float week

Posted at 7:57 AM on August 11, 2009 by Paul Huttner (1 Comments)

Forecast high temperatures Thursday show 90s are here.

We've been waiting for a week like this at the Huttner Weather Lab.

Every year we declare root beer float week. The deal is you have to pick a week where temperature and humidity levels are high enough that root beer floats have to taste really, really good. That usually means 90 degrees. It's been a slow summer for root beer floats so far. This is the week.

A slow moving lazy ridge of high pressure is building into the Upper Midwest this week. That means plenty of sunshine, warmer temperatures and increasing humidity. Look for highs pushing 90 in southern Minnesota Wednesday through Friday. Dew points will climb from the comfy 50s today into the upper 60s later this week.

Even northern Minnesota, which has had trouble hitting 80 this summer, will put together a string of days in the 80s this week. That will help warm up the unusually chilly lakes. That's good news for weather lab residents who just might be heading up the Boundary Waters in about 10 days.

The flow turns southwest aloft as we head into the weekend. That may bring increased chances of thunder and heavy rain. Let's hope we can get it done after dark for the PGA Championship in town at Hazeltine this week.

Enjoy Minnesota finest summer weather this week!

(1 Comments)

Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight

Posted at 12:45 PM on August 11, 2009 by Paul Huttner

The dog days of summer are here.

That means the annual Perseid Meteor Shower is ready to put on a show.

This year's show could be a good one for Minnesota. A warm air mass with reasonably low humidity levels should mean clear skies for most of the Upper Midwest tonight. Combine that with the moonrise at 10:25pm in the metro, and skies should be relatively clear and dark.

International Meteor Organization reports have observed about 25 meteors per hour so far this week. Tonight's peak could bring rates 10 times that, up to 250 meteors per hour.

Each August the earth's orbit passes though the debris stream from the comet Swift-Tuttle. Tiny grains of dust burn up upon entry into the earth's atmosphere. When they do they put on a dazzling show.

Here are some tips for best viewing tonight.

-Find a dark spot away from city lights
-Meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, but may favor the northeast sky near the constellation Perseus.
-Meteors will radiate from the direction of Perseus
-The show peaks before dawn Wednesday, but best viewing may be before or just after moonrise at 10:25pm.

Enjoy the show!

PGA stars enjoy Minnesota's finest weather

Posted at 4:50 PM on August 11, 2009 by Paul Huttner (1 Comments)

Tiger 10 small.jpg
Tiger Woods shares a moment on the 18th green during Tuesday's practice round.
(Photo by Paul Huttner)

Like the old beer commercial says: "It doesn't get any better than this."

The best golfers in the world were greeted by sunny skies, light breezes and perfect temperatures and humidity for practice rounds at Hazeltine Tuesday. Temperatures in the 80s and dew points in the 50s made for perfect conditions.

Six inches of rain pounded Hazeltine National in Chaska Friday night. The course is in such great shape today, you wouldn't know it sprinkled. The ponds are high, Lake Hazeltine looks full, and the creek running under the Payne Stewart Bridge on 16 is running as smooth as Rae's Creek at Augusta. It's amazing how well the course has drained just 3 days after a flash flood.

I had a chance to walk the course today. It was very warm in the sun, but nice and comfy if you can find some shade. It's going to get downright hot out there later this week, so be prepared. Here are some of the photos I captured during today's practice round. My digital camera is silent so I was able to capture a couple of shots near contact.

Sergio 2 small.jpg
Sergio Garcia chips one close.