Updraft: May 4, 2012 Archive

Rainfall data look-up resource, wet start to May, Minnehaha Creek Forum on Stormwater Adaptation

Posted at 12:15 PM on May 4, 2012 by Mark Seeley

Greg Spoden from the Minnesota State Climatology Office has designed a new web page for viewing maps, graphics and text associated with recent rainfall events in Minnesota. He calls it the "Puddle Page." You can also find access there to stream flow levels on Minnesota watersheds (provided by USGS). To view the page go to

www.climate.umn.edu

Once there you can click on the "Puddles" hyperlink.

Some observers already report total rainfall over the first 3 days of May that is close to the monthly normal. These include places like Rice with 3.30 inches and Wabasha with 3.15 inches.

Minnehaha Creek Watershed District will be hosting a public forum on their Stormwater Adaptation Study at the St Louis Park Recreation Center on May 15th from 6:30 pm to 8:45 pm. This is in response to changing precipitation patterns across the area which have not only brought greater annual precipitation, but more frequent episodes of intense,thunderstorm produced extreme rainfall events which pose a serious flash flood threat. I will be presenting a climate perspective and many others will offer perspectives on vulnerability of infrastructure, risk management and community response, including options for storm water management and associated costs. Those interested in attending this meeting can contact Leslie Yetka with the Minnehaha Watershed District (email: lyetka@minnehahacreek.org) or phone 952-641-4524. If you want to learn more, go to the Watershed's web site.

Severe storms extreme southern Minnesota, unsettled weekend

Posted at 3:25 PM on May 4, 2012 by Craig Edwards

A frontal boundary is hooking up with a weak area of spin in the mid levels of the atmosphere to create severe storms along the I-90 corridor this afternoon. Warnings for tornadoes from near Worthington to Jackson were issued between 2:30 and 3:15 p.m. CDT.

Satellite images depict the blossoming storms at mid afternoon, and more are likely to develop in South Dakota and Iowa the remainder of the afternoon and evening.

3pm visible satellite. Source: NOAA/College of Dupage

The Storm Prediction Center posted this tornado threat for this evening.

Source: NOAA SPC

While the percentage mean seem low, tornadoes have already been reported.

There will likely be a break in the stormy and wet weather early Saturday before more storms erupt on Saturday night. Be prepared for showers and thunderstorms during the darkness hours on Saturday and into Sunday morning. Locally heavy rain is possible.

We could catch a break and experience a lengthy period of dryness from Saturday afternoon into the evening.

Sunday's maximum temperatures will barely make it into the 60s in southeast Minnesota. Fifties are likely in the north.

Rainfall potential from the NOAA Environmental Prediction Center for Saturday night and Sunday:

We could use the moisture, but timing could be better.

Severe Weather information from the NWS Chanhassen Office.

--Craig Edwards