Updraft: May 4, 2011 Archive

Temps trend up; a shot at 70? "Backwards" New Zealand tornado

Posted at 8:55 AM on May 4, 2011 by Paul Huttner
Filed under: Flooding, Mississippi River, Tornadoes, Winter/spring 2011

Who knew 59 degrees could feel so good?

The mercury struggled to 59 in the metro on Tuesday under brilliant sunny skies. That's still 6 degrees below the average for May 3rd, which is now 65. Looking at the smiling faces and the number of us soaking up the much needed sunshine, you would have thought it was 75.

Temps surge Tuesday. (Click images to enlarge)

Our sunny weather winning streak continues today. Temps will recover to near "normal" early May levels this afternoon. Those stunted hostas will get a boost today with temps in the mid 60s. It should be a great evening for outdoor baseball or that evening stroll around Lake Calhoun.

Next rain tonight:

An "open wave" riding the jet stream will bring our next shot of rain overnight into early Thursday. Look for rain showers in western Minnesota this evening, spreading into the metro by around midnight.

Rainfall totals appear to be between .25" to .50" for most areas as the system sails through. "Open waves" tend to keep moving through the atmosphere and not stall over Minnesota. Look for rain to end from west to east early Thursday. It looks like the rain could end by noon, and the sun could return Thursday PM!

Fab Friday?

Another high pressure cell will glide overhead Friday. This means more sunshine, and temps could respond again into the upper 60s as spring kicks into high gear.

Temps trending upward next several days!

Friday just may be the nicest day in a long time around these parts.

Mixed weather bag this weekend?

Is it too early to look ahead to the weekend? Never!

To be honest, it's dicey to profess total accuracy 3-4 days out for any forecast. That may be especially true this weekend, as the weather crystal ball (and the weather maps) still look a little murky.

A couple of weak waves will slide through Minnesota under an increasing milder southwest flow aloft. This may trigger a few batches of clouds and a few showers both Saturday and Mother's Day. I also think we'll see some sunny, dry hours mixed in.

Bottom line? Look for a changeable weekend forecast, with a mix of sun and maybe a few showers. Temperatures should range from the upper 60s to possibly 70 if we get enough sun mixed in.

Unsettled next week?

The maps are looking potentially unsettled Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. A storm that looked like it may clip Minnesota Monday appears to be steering south, and that could leave us high & dry with a sunny milder day in the low 70s if it verifies.

The system may surge north a bit Tuesday & Wednesday, and the chances for rain could increase then. The models are still shifty regarding this potential weather system next week.

Stay tuned.

Omega Block ahead?

To be honest, the weather maps look chaotic in about 7-10 days. There is still a hint that we could develop what we call an "Omega Block" over the central USA later next week. If we do, that could lead to more dry weather.

Again...stay tuned.

New Zealand Tornado: Yes, they do spin the other way in the southern Hemisphere

But the damage is very real and looks the same. Check out the video & story from the New Zealand Herald.

Minnesota floods move down river:

Remember all that water in the Minnesota & Mississippi last month? Well it's moving down the Mississippi and combining with heavy rainfall to creat major flood probelms in the along the Mississippi. The raging Ohio River is feeding the problem too.

Here's the ABC Memphis video of the Army Corps of Engineers blowing the levee to save Cairo, IL. (pronounced KAY- row)

Heavy rains in excess of 7 to 10" have fallen along the Ohio and Mississippi watersheds.

We can be grateful our weather is trending for the better. For the first time in a long time we can say there are no floods, no snow, and for now no severe weather in the forecast.

It's all green grass, tulips and daffodils baby.

Enjoy!

PH