Updraft: August 21, 2009 Archive

Seasonal rainfall deficits shrinking with a wet August

Posted at 12:48 PM on August 21, 2009 by Mark Seeley (2 Comments)

At the beginning of this month, many observers were reporting sizable seasonal rainfall deficits ranging from 5 to 9 inches below normal since April 1st, especially across central counties. However since August 1st many areas of the state have received large doses of rainfall. These amounts are producing significant monthly totals already, as many observers report monthly totals of 6, 7, and 8 inches. Chaska with nearly 9.5 inches for the month so far has already recorded their wettest August in history (surpassing the 9.10 inches in 1984). Willmar with nearly 8 inches is reporting their 6th wettest August of all time, and Hinckley with nearly 8 inches is reporting their 4th wettest August of all-time. For most Minnesota weather observers the first 3 weeks of August represents the wettest period of the year.

Fortunately much of this rainfall has occurred across drought-stricken areas of the state, notably west-central and east-central counties. In fact Pine County observers reported 5 to 6 inches of rainfall over the 19th and 20th alone, verified by radar derived estimates. In fact if you want to examine the spatial character of these heavy rainfalls you can do it for any date using the National Weather Service Hydroloic Prediction Service web site. For many Minnesota locations this is the 4th time in the past 5 years that August has provided surplus rainfall to catch up on earlier season deficits. These excessive values are helping to close the seasonal rainfall deficit this year in many places. For example at Milan in Chippewa County, the seasonal rainfall deficit since April 1st was approximately 8 inches behind normal to start August, and it has now shrunk to 5 inches behind normal.

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Weather & weatherman take a holiday

Posted at 3:07 PM on August 21, 2009 by Paul Huttner

Twin Cities NWS graphical forecast shows highs soaring into the 80s by Monday.

Enough already.

I'm tired of blathering on about tornado touch downs, hook echoes, and multi-inch torrential downpours. You're probably tired of hearing it too. It's time to take a break.

The weather maps seem to agree. The timing is perfect. Get ready for another spectacular summer weekend in MPR Land.

The troubled storm system that set up shop over the Upper Midwest the past few days is history. A nice warm ridge of high pressure is building overhead in the upper atmosphere. In weather terms that means a sinking, warming, drying air mass. In weather consumer terms it means a great weekend.

Here's the break down statewide for the upcoming weekend.

Friday Night: Look for the last few clouds to pull out of Minnesota and the last few showers to exit southern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Clearing skies will bring cooler temperatures tonight. Look for lows as cool as 39 in the colder nooks and crannies around Ely, Tower and Embarrass. Lows will be in the 40s elsewhere in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin and in the 50s south. A fresh northwest breeze will bring in drier air at 10-20 mph.

Saturday: Expect bright sunshine region wide. A few fair weather cumuli may puff up in the afternoon. Highs will be mostly in the 70s, but near 80 south. North winds will gradually shift into the east at 5-15 mph.

Sunday: More sunshine and warmer. Highs will be near 80 in the north, and in the low 80s south. There may be some mid-80s in the eastern Dakotas and western Minnesota. Winds will be southwest at 10-20 mph and a bit gusty at times.

The Huttner Weather Lab is moving north next week. It's time for a vacation after slaving over a hot stormy doppler this week. I'll be on a family trip to an undisclosed secret location in the Boundary Waters. Wish me good weather. So far it looks like the forecast will cooperate.

I'll leave you in the capable hands of Craig Edwards and Dr. Seeley next week. You can ask Craig for some inside scoop on how the NWS does business, he knows it all. He'll also keep tabs on Hurricane Bill. And remember to catch Mark's gig with Gary Eichten at the Fair.

Take care, have a great week and may good weather come your way. See you at the Fair.

PH