Updraft: January 13, 2010 Archive

Milder Pacific air surges in

Posted at 8:27 AM on January 13, 2010 by Paul Huttner (1 Comments)

Morning Twin Cities upper air sounding shows warm air (red line) surging in above 2,000 feet.

This is an interesting day to be a weather forecaster.

If you look at the upper air profile from this morning's weather balloon launch at Chanhassen, you can see why. Follow the red line from the bottom up. That's the temperature. Warmer is to the right, colder to the left. Notice how the temperature climbs dramatically right above the bottom of the graphic?

That's our temperature inversion. It's much warmer just 2,000 to 5,000 feet above our heads (may approach 50 degrees today) than it is at ground level. But enough forecasting 101.

The bottom line is we started out about 15 degrees warmer this morning that yesterday. The warmest air in quite sometime is filtering in to Minnesota today. The big forecast question revolves around when the fog and stratus will break up today. How much sun will we get, and how soon. All things considered it looks like we'll break into sunshine as the day wears on. That should be enough to boost temperatures into at least the lower 30s.

There is a "bust potential" on the high side today. If everything goes right, we could see a surge to near 40 in some areas of southern Minnesota today.

The overall weather pattern reamins favorable for much warmer than average temperatures through next week. Daytime highs in the 30s will be common. The biggest departure from average will occur in our overnight lows. Lows in the 20s and high teems will be way above our average low of 5 degrees in the metro over the next week.

No big arctic outbreaks are lurking around the corner in the next 10 days.

Winter Olympics: Snow wanted

It was 56 in Vancouver, BC yesterday. The average high is 43. While the Olympic ski venues are inland and higher, warm air and rain, yes rain, has forced closure of some of the Olympic free-style ski and snowboard venues. The high was 37 in Whistler yesterday.

They are stockpiling snow under tarps to try and maintain it for the Olympic events. There is bare ground on some of the ski slopes. That's a potential nightmare for Olympic officials.

The good news in the forecast is, it looks colder with a chance of snow in about a week.

PH

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Upside down weather world

Posted at 3:28 PM on January 13, 2010 by Paul Huttner (1 Comments)

A few liquid drops fall from the Weather Lab roof today.

It may not be much, but it's a start.

Our mid-winter respite is expanding today around Minnesota. Temperatures this afternoon are on the "good" side of freezing in a several Minnesota towns. We even have a toasty 41 degrees in Wakish in pine tree aided northern Minnesota over thinner snow cover.

Here are the Minnesota locations above freezing in the NWS 3pm observations.

WEATHER ROUNDUP FOR MINNESOTA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
300 PM CST WED JAN 13 2010

CITY SKY/WX TMP DP RH WIND PRES REMARKS

BEMIDJI SUNNY 34 25 69 SE9 29.65F WCI 26
ROSEAU SUNNY 34 27 75 SW9 29.62R WCI 26
WARROAD SUNNY 34 25 69 SW10 29.61F WCI 26
FOSSTON SUNNY 34 23 64 SW13 29.64S WCI 25
BAUDETTE MOSUNNY 34 21 59 S7 29.62F
INTL FALLS SUNNY 35 20 54 S5 29.65F
WASKISH SUNNY 41 25 52 S5 29.64F
BIG FORK SUNNY 34 21 60 S12 29.69S WCI 25
CRANE LAKE SUNNY 34 19 55 S6 29.70S
ELY SUNNY 36 21 55 SW5 29.69S

Only 3 towns in snow packed southern Minnesota are above freezing so far today.

MARSHALL SUNNY 36 23 60 CALM 29.76S
WINDOM MOSUNNY 36 30 80 S9 29.74S
ALBERT LEA SUNNY 36 27 69 S9 29.81S HAZE

In the Twin Cities we are still hovering just below freezing. But the afternoon sun is adding enough additional energy to create microclimates above freezing on slushy roads and rooftops. The pitter patter of liquid snow melt is a welcome sound at the Weather Lab today.

Snow cover rules:

Snow cover as of January 7th. (Courtesy MN DNR.)

Today is a perfect example fo the effect of snow cover on temperatures. Notice how the deep snow in southern Minnesota is limiting temperatures, while the relatively lighter snow pack in northern Minnesota is allowing for the big warm up. It's an upside down weather world in Minnesota today when it comes to temperatures.

GOES visible satellite shows the edge of the snowpack retreating eastward through eastern Nebraska. Rivers and the urban areas of Lincoln and Omaha are clearly visible.

Temperatures are in the 50s today in Nebraska. That air mass is sliding over Minnesota, but we are cooler near the surface thanks to deep snow cover.

The next 10 days should be excellent for enjoying the snow and outdoor activities that our Minnesota winter offers.

Enjoy the warm up!

PH

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