Frost Report September 26th. All areas experinced frost, First frost for southern areas & Fall color picture!

Frost picture from Dallas,WI September 26th

A very chilly morning was experienced today, as all locations fell into the 30s and at least some type of frost was reported at all locations. Northern areas had a hard killing frost where lows fell in the upper 20s. Southern areas had a hard frost, some more sheltered locations had a more light frost. I spent the weekend in Dallas, a small community in Southeast Barron County, There they got a hard frost, yards were white and cars were completely frosted over. Most tender plants that were not covered were killed. A thermometer I stuck out had a low of 27.F, which might be a the low side, although Dallas is in a low spot in a river valley, so that may very well be correct.

Back in my yard, My station reported a low of 35.F, which was one of the warmer spots in the area. There was a light frost in the yard limits, but the fields were white. Garden plants were not harmed, including tender tropical dig-up bulbs I left uncovered. The growing season continues at my location, and across many locations in the south. Locations in Burnett and Washburn counties has ended there growing season.


The coldest temperature was a very chilly 27.F in Minong, The warmest location was Hudson, My Station-Clayton and Balsam Lake, all of which reported a low of 35.F



Sugar Maple, and Red Maple in Turtle Lake,WI

Fall Colors are really started to become very nice across my area this weekend, Sugar Maples are very beautiful with colors of oranges and reds, there nearing peak color, and with the weather looking nice for the entire week, it looks like there will be plenty time to enjoy them! My fall color report can be found down a few posts from this one.

Weekend Forecast Updated. Frost and Freeze likely tonight!

Regional Weather View.

A Very chilly high pressure system will bring the likelyhood of Frost in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Wall to Wall Sunshine is expected for Monday and it will be warmer.

Local View

Note: Forecast has been redone for Sunday due to the likelyhood of a Frost and Freezing Temeptures.

A Chilly high pressure system will settels it's self behind that storm system that brought us all the rain Thursday, This will bring much cooler weather with highs in the 60s. partly sunny skies should give way to clear skies by evening, this will result in dropping tempertures. By Sunday Morning places in the north may end up having a hard killing frost and freeze, Lows in the low 30s is possible, I would not be surprised to see upper 20s from Places like Minong. In the rest of the area, Frost appears likely with lows in the low to mid 30s. This will would be the first frost of the season for southern areas, Cover plants or bring them indoors tonight.

Frost advisories and Freeze warnigns are already in place for Burnett and Washburn counties. It it likely a frost advisory will be in place for Polk,Barron, St Croix and Dunn counties later this afternoon.

The rest of Sunday and Monday will bring warmer tempetures and sunshine with highs in the low to mid 60s. Burnette and Washburn counties may get hit again with frost Sunday night.

Sunday, Widespread Frost likely in the morning, espessally north. Lows in the low to mid 30s. Sunny Skies, Highs in the low 60s Sunday Night, Clear Skies, lows in the upper 30s to low 40s. Mid 30s possible North where frost is possible.

Monday, Frost possible in the morning North. Sunny skies and warmer highs in the mid 60s. Monday Night Partly Cloudy lows in the mid 40s.

Looking Ahead

We finally have a couple of Nice dry days in our future it appears, which for the first time I've ever even thought of mentioning is actually needed. Monday through Friday of next week all could dry, which would dry things out nicely. temperatures look fair during this entire time, looking not to cold, or to warm. Beyond this point The models show things look quiet with fair temperatures as we go through the first couple of weeks into October, At this time it shows we could be frost free the entire looking ahead forecast!

Fall Color Report # 3- Moderate color now showing in areas.

Fall Color Report # 3

Fall Color is starting to explode quickly across the area with the cool and cloudy weather we've been having, but it has become especially colorful across the North, where Moderate color is being reported from several locations including Grantsburg, Luck and Minong. Low color is now bring reported in Rice Lake Spooner and Menomone, with Little color still showing up in Birchwood and Hudson, Areas where there are lots of earlier changing trees like Maple and Ash will have lots of color, but areas where there are more late turning trees will still be mainly green. Leaf-Seekers will want to get up to the Northern areas soon, they will be peaking in the next week or 2. Southern locations will likely peak with in the next 2-3 weeks. Sunday will be the next nice day for leaf viewing.

Nice Yellow Ash in my front yard. This tree is nearly at it's highest color.

I am officially reporting Low Color 30% Early trees have high color, Ash are peaking and Sugar Maples are getting very colorful, and now Red Maples are starting to turn. 3 trees in my yard are showing color including this ash in my front yard in the picture above. the Second large ash in my back yard has started turning golden yellow, and a young Red Maple I just planted this past spring is starting to turn a beautiful red-blaze color. The oaks in my yard are still very green. Looking out on the landscape I can still see lots of color, but spots of nice color are showing up, We will likely be going into the Moderate color category very soon.

Strong system brought very heavy rain totals and caused minor flooding in parts of the area.

Heavy rain September 23rd


A complex and strong weather system impacted the area late this week, bring very heavy widespread rainfall totals to the area. This type of system is more common for June then it is September! The first band of rain first developed in Southern Minnesota and impacted Southern parts of the area, then on Thursday the band moved North and effected the rest of the area. Radar estimates shows all locations picked up at least 1 inch of rain. Some places had significant rainfall, with reports as high as 4 inches! There was a strong warm front associated with this system bring a very sharp temperature contrast to the area. Burnett and Washburn counties had a chilly rainy fall-like rainfall event with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s. While Polk,Barron, St Croix and Dunn counties had a mild day with highs in the low 70s


Standing water at the bottom of our driveway.


Some minor flooding was reported with this system, and the NWS says the area got near record breaking rainfall, this type of September rain has not been seen in many years. Thankfully the rain came at a long enough duration that major flooding did not occur, Mainly field and yard flooding was observed, such as low spots having standing water in yards. Agriculture fields are quite flooded ans saturated as well, causing significant problems for farmers wanting to get out in the fields.


Fairly unusual field flooding Sept 23rd

This system at my location started as moderate rain late Wednesday then there was a lull. Thursday was the wettest day with steady moderate rain much of the afternoon with very heavy bursts. My yard experienced minor flooding even though water generally flows easily away from our hill, water still puddled in our yard, and the ground is so saturated and water logged, it is hard to talk on without sinking in a puddle of water, I don't remember the ground this saturated before. Fields in my area have flooding, with large standing water puddles in them, making for significant impacts on local farmers. In the picture above water rushed across two fields near my house, I've never seen this much water here in the summer/fall, only after a spring thaw with lots of winter snow there will be water here. This system was very mild and tropical like at my location with the temperature and dew point in the 70s, even with steady rain, the warm front lifted to just North of me in the afternoon, and it was noted by warmer temperatures and very gusty winds for a short time gusting to 30MPH. It was interesting that the warm front bring my mild air stalled just about over highway 48 and at the same time the temperature was 70 at my location it was 57.F in Siren about an hours drive north! The storm total was 2.50" in my yard, Which goes down in my record books as the highest rainfall amount I've recorded for a storm system, but it does not break the highest daily rainfall.

Storm total rainfall reports. More will be added as they come in

Hammond Heavy Rain 2.83"

Clayton-my sta. Heavy Rain 2.50"

Haugen Heavy Rain 3.10"

Trade Lake Heavy Rain 2.40"

Siren Heavy Rain 2.51"

4 miles N Grantsburg Heavy Rain 4.10"

Danbury Heavy Rain 3.10"

Sarona Heavy Rain 2.51"

Menomonie Heavy Rain 3.50"

Image from SPC

The SPC has issued a Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms in parts of the Upper Midwest Thursday afternoon, including parts of the local area. A strong warm front/cold front system will pass through Minnesota early, and move east into Wisconsin, storms that get going Thursday afternoon could become severe. The main threats will be hail, high winds, and very heavy rainfall, with an inhanced threat for tornados. The best chance of encoutering severe weather will be in Southern parts of the area. People should be aware of the potienal severe weather tomorrow.

Sept 21st Severe Storms hit with high winds and hail.

GRL3 Radar Image

Late season Severe Storms hit the area very late last night, with highs winds, heavy rain and hail, taking down trees across a widespread area in St Croix, Polk and Barron counties. The storms first formed in Southern Minnesota, and quickly raced north at 55MPH, They hit St Paul,MN with ping pong ball sized hail and high winds, shortly after they raced through St Croix and Polk, and Barron Counties producing high winds and small hail. Trees were reported down in Hudson and Turtle Lake, as well as in my area, and sign damage was reported in Centuria.

Healthy Tree down along 70th AVE near Clayton



The day was already an interesting weather day in the area, as we experience rising temperatures at night, as A very strong warm front moved north! It started out 58.F with drizzle at 5PM at my location, then by 2AM under clear skies, the temperature rose to 70.F with a heat index 77.F! It was a very weired experience, something I hadn't seen before. The air actually smelled different as the leftover hot air from Southern Minnesota pushed over, where highs were in the 90s earlier. Some places like Hudson actually went all the way to 77.F after starting out in the low 50s during the daylight! The warm front hovered over the area through evening, as a triple point moved closer. Around midnight this area became the focus for severe storms.


I first saw storms developing in Southern Minnesota south of the cities last night before I went to bed, Shortly after, I was awaken around 1:30 by loud thunder in the distance. I went up to check the radar and it wasn't long after this the NWS issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for my area for my area due to developing storms South of St Croix County that producing wind damage and were looking impressive. These storms were flying Northeast very quickly. They reached my area shortly after 2AM. I was sitting next to the computer when just ahead the storm the winds howled as a powerful southwest wind gust blew through, My wind gauge reported a quick 36MPH gust, right as the heavy rainfall started to hit. The lighting in these storms was very vivid and frequent, with a couple close bolts. The winds were strong enough to caused tree damage through-out my area. I seen multiple trees down dead, and healthy ones along the side of the roads. My Co-Worker said she nearly ran into one blocking the road earlier the next morning on Barbo Lake Rd.



Dead tree fallen onto part of Highway P

Although the strongest wind gusts were short lived, Trees littered the roads around Clayton. In my yard the damage was minimal, and included a 3 inch diameter dead branch, and near 1 inch diameter live branch down from a lilac bush.

I took this video still of web lighting as the storm moved away from me showing now vivid the lightning was.

Damage Reports

Hudson, Trees down

New Richmond 36MPH wind gust.

Amery 41MPH wind gust.

Clayton, Multiple trees down, including dead, and healthy ones. Some were blocking roads.

Clayton 36MPH wind gust.

Turtle Lake, Trees Down.

Centuria, Stop sign blown down.

Cumberland 36MPH wind gust.

Severe Weather Threat Tonight. Updated

Image from SPC

The SPC has continues a Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms for late this evening into tonight, for most of the Upper Midwest. A strong warm front is moving north, and has reached Central Minnesota, this is surging warm air north, later, the cold front and low pressure center will sweep across Central Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. With this set up, showers will form in Minnesota, Some storms could become strong to severe near the triple point as they move into Western Wisconsin. The main threats will be large hail and strong winds, and now including an enhanced 5% risk for tornado's.