Updraft: July 5, 2012 Archive

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Tempering the heat, adding more clouds and thunderstorms

Posted at 6:46 AM on July 5, 2012 by Craig Edwards (2 Comments)
Filed under: Daylight, Rainfall, Thunderstorms, dew point

Anyone feel like celebrating the heat and humidity that set a record in the Twin Cities on the 4th of July? The maximum temperature of 101 at the Twin Cities International Airport on Wednesday beat the old record of 100 set in 1949. Dew points in the 70s lifted heat index readings to near 110 degrees. We also set a record high minimum temperature of 81 degrees on the 4th. Surpassing the old record of 80 set in 1999.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET YESTERDAY IN ST CLOUD MINNESOTA...
THE HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS 97 DEGREES YESTERDAY IN ST CLOUD.

THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 96 SET JULY 4 1988.

.A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET YESTERDAY IN EAU CLAIRE WISCONSIN...
THE HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS 98 DEGREES YESTERDAY IN EAU CLAIRE.

THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 97 SET JULY 4 1999.

Bouts of thunderstorms moved through northern and central Minnesota yesterday and overnight. At daybreak this IR satellite image depicts the coldest cloud tops and the location of thunderstorms.

Source: NOAA

A weak frontal boundary has settled over central Minnesota this morning. This division in air masses is expected to remain nearly stationary today and this evening. Meanwhile a mid level trough (an inducer of thunderstorms) will approach the upper Midwest tonight. Chances for showers and thunderstorms are at least in the 50/50 range for the next 36 hours for much of central and southern Minnesota.

Forecast weather for July 5, 2012. Source: NOAA

This afternoon temperatures will be several degrees lower than Wednesday's maximum temperatures. Readings of 100 degrees were recorded at St. Paul, Winona, Red Wing and Black River Falls, Wisconsin. It was a relatively comfortable 79 at Baudette on Wednesday afternoon. Thunderstorms prompted warnings of large hail and strong winds during the afternoon and nighttime hours.

Storm report from NOAA's Storm Prediction Center for Wednesday.

This computer image from the Rapid Update Cycle forecast model depicts the temperatures expected later this afternoon.

Temperature forecast for 4 p.m. CDT from RUC. Source: NOAA and College of Dupage

Thunderstorms should favor some places with rather generous rainfall the next 36 to 48 hours.

NOAA experts paint this graphic of rainfall potential ending at 7 a.m. CDT on Saturday. Some storms today and tonight may produce large hail.

Seasonal temperatures are seen statewide for Saturday and Sunday accompanied with lower dew points. In the meantime, southern Minnesota will experience two more days with readings in the lower to middle 90s.

Forecast temperatures for Sunday at 7 p.m. CDT
Source: NOAA GFS and Twisterdata.com

Have you noticed the earlire sunsets? Probably not! But the daylight is getting shorter.

Craig Edwards

(2 Comments)

Less humid but still plenty of heat

Posted at 4:24 PM on July 5, 2012 by Craig Edwards
Filed under: Heat, Rainfall

Portions of northern and central Minnesota enjoyed much lower dew points this afternoon, along with a little bit of a north breeze. Sunshine likely made for pretty good beach and lake weather in the resort regions.

NOAA visible satellite image from 330 p.m. CDT

At 4 p.m. CDT St. Cloud reported a temperature of 87 degrees with a dew point of 52 and a northeast wind of 9 mph. Compare that to a temperature of 96 degrees and a dew point of 75 degrees at the same time on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Eden Prairie, in the Twin Cities west metro, checked in with a temperature of 93 degrees and a dew point of 73 degrees at 4 p.m.

A frontal boundary will be more clearly identified with convergencing surface winds later this evening over far southern Minnesota. Thunderstorms are most likely to form in the eastern Dakotas and travel north of the front overnight. Weather should be dry for outdoor activities early this evening in MInnesota.

Weather map for 7 a.m. Friday. Source: NOAA

There will be one more day of 90-degree temperatures in southern Minnesota on Friday before a more serious cool front pushes south through the Great Lakes on Friday night. Some needed rain may occur with strong thunderstorms on Friday. In the last two weeks, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport has tallied less than a quarter inch of moisture.