Updraft: September 30, 2009 Archive

Sun today; rain tomorrow

Posted at 8:31 AM on September 30, 2009 by Paul Huttner

NOAA rainfall forecast highlights 1" to 2"+ rainfall amounts for southern Minnesota by Saturday.

I'll be cleaning those gutters at the Huttner Weather Lab today.

After a light touch of frost in the metro suburbs this morning look for a return to sunshine and milder temperatures this afternoon. The dry day will be the last before a much needed soaker sets up Thursday.

The next weather system will bring a rain shield into southern Minnesota overnight tonight and should reach the metro by early Thursday morning. This system looks like it may feature a persistent band of rain centered over southern Minnesota including the metro area. The rain may last in some areas from Thursday morning right into Friday.

As the system tracks east through Iowa, it will have the opportunity to tap moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and wring it out over Minnesota. Rainfall could exceed one inch in much of the area, and some gauges may be brimming with over 2 inches by Saturday morning.

It appears the heaviest bands of rain should set up from the Twin Cities south into southern Minnesota. There may be a sharp drop off in rainfall amounts on the northern edge of the system as you approach St. Cloud and Hinckley.

The rain will be welcome for most area in the region. The Twin Cities is running 2.16" below average on rainfall since September 1st. In addition to the remarkable warmth, this will go down as one of the driest Septembers on record for many locations in Minnesota. Trees and shrubs are stressed from a summer of drought, and a good soaking rain now will be beneficial in recharging soils and plants.

PH

Fall Colors Exploding

Posted at 4:19 PM on September 30, 2009 by Paul Huttner

Today's Minnesota DNR fall color map shows a rapid increase in color around Minnesota.

The curtain is opening on October, and the show is ready to roll.

Our recent changes in daylight and weather are causing fall colors to explode into brilliance around the region. The Minnesota DNR fall color report is showing 50% to 75% color now around parts of Minnesota. Our frosty temperatures this morning in much of the region will serve to accelerate the process.

The MN DNR map is interesting this year. The most vibrant and advanced color changes are in central Minnesota and in the Duluth and Fargo-Morehead areas. There are even pockets of advanced color in the extreme southwest and southeast corners of the state.

This is a departure from what we often consider to be the north to south progression of fall color in Minnesota. Some of this may be related to drought stress over the summer, which was most pronounced in the southern half of the state.

Fall colors will likely peak in some areas over the next 10 days. We should see a return to bright sunshine after our rain system Thursday and Friday, so hopefully we'll be able to see the expanding colors in all their glory the next few weeks.

PH