Cool wet and cloudy Thursdays with highs only in the upper 50s! Increasingly nice by weeks end with sunshine and highs in the 70s.

Regional weather view.

A cool and cloudy pattern for the Upper Midwest for the end of this week. A low pressure system scooting over Illinois will continue to spread light rain and below average temperatures across Southeastern Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois. Highs will only be in the 50sto 60 across the region. By weeks end a high pressure system will bring in sunnier weather and warmer temperatures into the 70s and 80s by early next week, which is closer to normal.

 Regional and Metro views.

Locally it will be downright awful for weather on Thursday, It will be cloudy and chill with off an on drizzle early. Then lingering cloudy skies in the afternoon. Highs will only be in the 50s because of dense cloudcover which is well below normal Night time lows will be very chilly in the middle 40s. The weather will drastically improve by Friday  as a high pressure system slides into the state and scours out the clouds and replaces it with sunshine. We can expect highs to be in the 70s on Friday as well as Saturday. Saturday should be mostly dry with partly cloudy skies and light winds. We don't run into our next chance of rain until; Sunday and Monday when a frontal system brings spreading shower and thunderstorm chances back into Minnesota. The rain with these chances do not look at all heavy. Temperatures during this time will be much more summer-like with highs in nearing 80 and lows nearing 60. 



Thursday, Chilly! Cloudy with off and on drizzle early then cloudy. Highs in the upper 50s. Thursday Night, Cloudy skies. Lows in the mid 40s.

Friday, Warmer and pleasant. Sunny skies with highs in the lower 70s. Friday Night, Clear skies lows in the low 50s.

Saturday, Partly Cloudy and nice with highs in the lower 70s. Saturday Night, Clear skies lows in the mid 50s

Sunday, Sunny with a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm late. Highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. Sunday Night, A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms lows in the middle 60s.

Monday, A chance of showers and thunderstorms otherwise sunny with highs in the low 80s. Monday Night, Clear skies lows in the middle 60s

Looking Ahead

By Tuesday our weather pattern is sunny more humid warm to very warm days and warm nights and it appears dry with little chances for rain. This pattern sticks around through Saturday June 9th. It really looks hot, dry and sunny for the weekend of the 10th. This model run actually drys to keep it dry, hot and sunny through the 15th of June. I do not really trust that this to be true. I would suspect that after about a week or so into the warm patter we should run into rain. More on this later.

Hot Sunday highs in the 90s with dewpoints in the 70s. Also severe storm effected Goodhue County with strong winds.

 Humid conditions in the bluffs North of Rochester Sunday Morning May 27th.

Sunday was a hot and humid day for the region as a very summer like warm front pushed through the area early in the morning and left us with sunny, hot and humid conditions. Dewpoints actually topped out in the lower 70s early in the morning before things dried out slightly. Many areas had their warmer temps of the season so far, 90s were widespread. Here at my location yesterday it was 93.F the 4th time it has been above 90.F and the 2nd time its been in the middle 90s. The warmest day so far goes to May 18th with when rose to 94.F

Highs Reported

Goodhue County storm.

Yesterday evening severe winds impacted parts of Goodhue County as a gust front pushed through the entire area. Storms influencing with this front enhanced the winds in some areas and at Cannon Falls there was a reported wind gust of 61MPH. No damage was reported.

Wind Reports

Red Wing 45MPH

Cannon Falls 61MPH

Wastedo 50MPH

Severe Storms effect Dodge County and go on to effect the Rochester area as strong storms. Tornteial rains 1.73" in a short timespan at my location

Shot of heavy rain and gusty winds in Northern Rochester-Buckridge Park area May 26th 2012

Severe Thunderstorms impacted the area once again today, although the time it effected western and central parts of the area with severe hail, gusty winds torrential downpours. Thunderstorms were ongoing in Western Minnesota this morning around 9am. The storms continue to track down a frontal boundary east through mid morning hours and finally entered the local area around 11am when they really begun to strengthen east of Owatonna.

 Radar image as the storm was effecting Dodge County. Screenshot courtesy of a friend who was helping out

As the storms strengthened severe hail larger then quarter sized was reported near Claremont in Dodge county after this report this storm continue to push down highway 14 effecting communities along highway 14 and eventually into the Rochester metropolitan area where it brought torrentially heavy rains, lots of penny sized hail and gusty winds. There were lots of reports of penny sized hail in areas of Rochester south of West Circle Drive and 55th street NW including the Downtown area where dime sized hail was reported along with a windy gust of 40MPH at St Marys. I was in Northern Rochester where I work where very heavy rain and gusty SE winds were seen along with lots of lighting but no hail was seen, but I heard from family and locals that "very heavy rain and hail so hard you could barely see" was predominant in the Downtown area and my neighborhood. When work ended I came home to 1.73" in my raingauge, all of which fell in a 30 minute time span! Urban Street flooding was and issue for during the rain. There was lots of washouts in driveways and industrial lots around the city and you could tell the streets were filled with water when the heavy rain occurred. Ditches were full along highway 52 where could see standing water on top of brown grass from previous drought conditions.

Storm Reports

2 miles S Claremont 1.25" hail

Byron 0.75" hail

Kasson 0.75" hail

3 miles SW Rochester 0.75" hail

West Downtown Rochester 0.50" hail also heavy rain 1.73" fell in short time

2 miles S Claremont Heavy Rain 1.73"

2 miles W Eyota Heavy Rain 2.16"

Dodge Center Heavy Rain 1.89"

Severe Weather Threats Tomarrow and Sunday

Image from SPC Saturdays Severe Weather Risk.

The SPC has issued a Slight Risk for severe storms Satruday, including all of the local area A warm front will be pushing through the Upper Midwest Satruday thunderstorms will be on goining from the overnight hours across our area and at any time some of the storms could become sever with strong a threar for tornados and heavy rain. People should be aware there is a threat for severe thunderstorms on Saturday.

Image from SPC Sundays Risk

The SPC has issued a Slight Risk for severe storms Sunday including the entire local area. A very warm very humid airmass will be in place as a sharp cold front pushes through the state. Thunderstorms will break out in Western Minnesota and likely develop into a line of storms that will push into our area in the night time hours, Damaging winds, large hail, tornados and torriental rain with 1.0+ ammounts are possible from these storms. People. should be aware severe thunderstorms are a possbility after dark Sunday. More information will be released in the coming hours.

Multiple threats for severe storms Satruday through Sunday! Heavy rain also a possbility. Before storms Sunday very/humid weather expected mid 90s with 100+ heat index values!

Regional Weather View.

Lots of types of weather becoming big stories  in the Upper Midwest this weekend. The main one will be the threat of severe storms Saturday and Sunday with a warm front/cold front combination. Satrudays threat will be with the warm front in Wisconsin, Northern Iowa and Minnesota. Sunday the severe weather threat will rake across Minnesota, Northern Iowa and Wisconsin again before ending. Heavy rainfall is a possibility especially places in Minnesota that do not need the heavy rainfall. Sunday will likely be the hottest day of the year for many locations as mid 90s are likely across much of Southern Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin south of a warm front. High dewpoints will lead to 100+ value heat indexs.

Local and Metro views.

Saturdays Severe Weather Threat

Locally we will be in some of the brunt of the multiple weather stories expected for the long holiday weekend. First a warm front that will bring very hot weather Sunday will be working through will bring thunderstorms in the early part of Saturday. Some of these storms could be severe mainly with strong winds and heavy rain. The threat for rain will decrease after 2pm then rest of Saturday will be cloudy and humid with highs in the 70s and lows remaining near 70.

Very Hot Sunday 95.F temps 100+ heat index values!

Sunday a very hot and humid airmass will be in place. Under sunny skies with strong south winds gusting to 35MPH high temperatures will reach the their warmest levels of the season hitting the middle 90s. It is possible some spots may reach the upper 90s especially in cities and general hot spots.  With temps expected to be this high with dewpoints very rich and sticky in the mid 60s to near 70 will cause heat index values to raise to near 100.F or higher. Heat realated stress can occur with tempetures this high. Residents should remember to stay cool in these types of conditions

Sundays Severe Weather Threat

Sunday has the highest threat  of seeing severe storms as a cold front plows into the hot humid airmass that will be in place. Thunderstorms are expected to break out across Southwestern Minnesota and moved east across the entire southern part of the state, likely reaching our area near dusk or after dark. Damaging winds, tornadoes, large hail and Torrential downpours will all be a possibility with these storms. Rainfall ammounts for the weekend total could exceed 1.50" in some areas. Satruday and Sunday will be both days to keep a weather radio handy. Monday after a threat of showers and thunderstorms early it will begin to calm down weather wise and cool off Highs will be in the upper 70s Monday with lows in the mid 50s, by Tuesday we can expect sunny breezy cool conditions with highs in the 60s and lows slipping into the upper 40s.

Saturday, Humid, Showers and thunderstorms in the morning. Some could be severe and produce heavy rain. Highs in the upper 70s. Saturday Night, Cloudy and humid with lows in the low 70s

Sunday, Hot and very humid! Sunny with highs in the middle to upper 90s. Heat Index Values around 100. South winds gusting to 35MPH. Sunday Night Thunderstorms, Some could be severe and produce torrential downpours. Lows in the upper 60s.

Monday, A chance of showers and thunderstorms early then partly cloudy with highs in the upper 70s. Monday Night, Clear skies lows in the low 50s.

Tuesday, Cool and breezy. Sunny with highs in the upper 60s. Winds gusting to 35MPH Tuesday Night, Clear skies and chilly, lows in the upper 40s.

Looking Ahead

   The weather looks drier and more seasonable for the middle part of this week. It looks typical for early June with dry sunny weather and highs in the 70s. Heat and humidity slowly increase until it becomes very hot by Monday the 4th of June ahead of a cold front that brings a chance of thunderstorms by Wednesday June 6th. After the a frontal system separating summer heat and cooler temps remain over the area meaning that there will be several chances and thunderstorms from the 7th through the 10th. and temps will be up and down with some days being hot humid and stormy while others will be cooler and more seasonable and rather cloudy. There could be several threats of severe storms and heavy rains during this time as well. We stay in the pattern through the 11th of June. 

Severe storms hit Winona and Fillmore counties hard. Widespread tree damage reported in Winona. Also Hot and very windy Wednesday ahead of front wind gusts over 50MPH reported!

Torrential downpour from a afternoon an afternoon strong storm May 24th 2012

Strong to severe storms swept through the area today as a stationary front got its act together and finally pushed east. Thunderstorms formed along this front along I-35 and slowly gained in strength as they moved east. After producing heavy downpours and gusty winds through communities west of and along highway 52 including in Rochester, they became severe and produced very high winds and widespread significant tree damage in Fillmore and Winona counties. A gust of 64MPH was reported in Harmony, and trees and powerlines were down in Fountain. Some of the worst damage done in the area was around and in the city of Winona. Strong winds down trees throughout the city. Powerouteges were reported in Goodview a Winona Suburb.

Radar image as storms approached Winona

This is a radar image taken from NWS La Cross as the storm pushed into the city of Winona. Notice a nice but un defined edge bowing area on the storm

Reports

Winona Widespread Tree Damage

Goodview, Trees down Power Outages.

Harmony, 64MPH wind gust Trees Down

Fountain Trees and powerlines down on Main St


Wednesdays Hot weather and strong S winds. 
 

 Significant blowing dust near Hayfield May 23rd 2012

The passing of a warm front and s strong low pressure system to our north with a tight gradient set us up for a hot and hot and very windy Wednesday! The wind was a hot, dry and very strong out of the South all day. It especially became strong in the afternoon when they were gusting across the Southern Minnesota Plain from 45 to 50MPH. The wind made driving difficult and causing minor problems such as breaking tree limbs and loose items blowing around. Significant blowing dust was a problem as well as dry conditions and Freshly plowed fields was allowing the winds to pick up the soil and blow it into the air. I personally was driving west during the day and I've never seen soil being picked up like this off fields it was a neat thing to see. In some cases the dust was blowing so bad that it was difficult to see where it was blinding views on roads at certain fields.

Highest wind gusts and temps.

The highest wind gust seen was in open areas near Zumbrota where a gust of 51MPH was reported. The least windiest area was Winona which recorded a 30MPH gust

Moderate risk for severe storms today! Tornados, High winds and large hail all a possiblity with the storms.

Image from SPC

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Moderate Risk! for severe thunderstorms in Southeastern Minnesota and Wisconsin. This includes the entire local area! A stalled out stationery front over central Minnesota will move southeast and will be the focus for thunderstorm develop in the afternoon. These storms could quickly become severe and produce very high winds, large hail and heavy rain. Upper level winds also show an enhanced threat for tornadoes. People in the area should be very aware that there is a fairly high threat for severe weather this afternoon which could prove to be dangerous!