It was a warm and very dry September for us in ou area as high temperatures were just a little warmer than normal while rainfall was way below normal.  Stagnant high pressure was dominant in the regionfor te last half of the month, bringing incredibly beautiful weather, but suppressing any rainfall potential.  The atmosphere itself was very dry under that high pressure, allowing for wild daily fluctuations of temperatures with 30s and 40s typical in the mornings across the local area and afternoon highs commonly in the 70s more often than not.  Our current rainfall deficit for 2012 in Rochester now stands at 6.94 inches!  Looking ahead at the forecast, we’re expcting just a little rain on Thursday and then perhaps some more down the road in the second half of next week, but otherwise the dry weather trend appears to continue in the meantime.

 Weather Summary from the NWS in La Crosse, WI:

 Rochester Minnesota

 

 

 

...SEPTEMBER IN ROCHESTER WAS MARKED BY SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL
TEMPERATURES AND WELL BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION...

THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR THE MONTH WAS 61.8 DEGREES. THIS WAS
0.9 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THE AVERAGE HIGH WAS 75.6 DEGREES...WHILE
THE AVERAGE LOW WAS 48.0 DEGREES. THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE FOR THE
MONTH WAS 93 DEGREES...WHICH OCCURRED ON THE 4TH. WHILE THE LOWEST
TEMPERATURE IN SEPTEMBER WAS 32 DEGREES WHICH OCCURRED ON THE 23RD.

ROCHESTER RECEIVED 1.29 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION DURING THE MONTH
WHICH WAS 2.16 INCHES BELOW NORMAL. ONLY 0.02 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION
OCCURRED DURING THE LAST 13 DAYS OF SEPTEMBER. THE GREATEST 24-HOUR
AMOUNT WAS 0.69 INCHES THAT OCCURRED ON THE 4TH AND 5TH.

...RECORDS...

THERE WERE NO RECORDS ESTABLISHED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.

...DISCUSSION...

THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER STARTED OFF VERY WARM WITH TWO DAYS OF 90
DEGREES OR HIGHER THROUGH THE FIRST 11 DAYS. COOLER TEMPERATURES DID
INVADED THE REGION AS A COUPLE OF COLD FRONT PASSAGES MADE THEIR WAY
ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST DURING THE MIDDLE PART OF THE MONTH. THERE
WERE 6 DAYS WHERE THE HIGH TEMPERATURES ONLY MANAGED TO MAKE IT INTO
THE UPPER 50S AND 60S OVER THE LAST HALF OF SEPTEMBER.

PRECIPITATION IN ROCHESTER WAS WELL BELOW NORMAL DURING THE MONTH AS
WEATHER SYSTEMS WERE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN ACROSS THE REGION. THERE
WERE ONLY 7 DAYS OF MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION DURING SEPTEMBER. ONLY
1 OF THOSE DAYS HAD OVER A HALF INCH OF PRECIPITATION IN ROCHESTER. A
SEVERE DROUGHT CONTINUED DURING SEPTEMBER ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA.

...LOOKING AHEAD TO OCTOBER...

THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR THE MONTH IS 48.4 DEGREES. THE AVERAGE
HIGH DROPS FROM 65 DEGREES ON THE 1ST...TO 51 DEGREES ON THE 31TH.
THE AVERAGE LOW DROPS FROM 44 DEGREES ON THE 1ST...TO 34 DEGREES ON
THE 31ST. THE WARMEST OCTOBER ON RECORD WAS IN 1963 WITH AN AVERAGE
OF 58.1 DEGREES...AND THE COLDEST OCTOBER WAS 37.9 DEGREES IN 1917.

THE AVERAGE OCTOBER PRECIPITATION IS 2.24 INCHES. THE WETTEST OCTOBER
OCCURRED IN 1911...WHEN 9.11 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION FELL. THE DRIEST
OCTOBER WAS 1893...WHEN THERE WAS NO PRECIPITATION REPORTED FOR THE
MONTH. THE AVERAGE SNOWFALL IS EIGHT TENTHS OF AN INCH. THE RECORD
SNOWFALL TOTAL FOR THE MONTH IS 7.9 INCHES...WHICH OCCURRED IN 2009.

Posted under fall

Our weather may not be feeling particularly fall-like right now with afternoon high temperatures consistently in the 70s this week, but despite that we’re seeing more and more of those bright and beautiful fall colors and we’re approaching the annual Harvest Moon this weekend.  Of course just about every month features a full moon (they occur every 29.5 days) but this is probably the most famous of the monthly “named” moons.  The second most famous being the “Hunter’s Moon” which comes next month.  Th Harvest Moon will rise in the east Saturday evening at 6:24 and it officially becomes a full moon at 10:22.  The weather for viewing this will be spectacular wth clear skies expected and evening temperatures in the 60s to low 70s, cooling quickly to the 50s by midnight.  High temperatures, incidentally, will be in the upper 70s tomorrow and then mid 70s Sunday, so if yu’re making outdoor plans ahead of the evening celestial show, you’ve got an ideal day for just about anything tomorrow.

 For more information here’s a link: Harvest Moon.

Posted under fall

We’re really getting our first taste of true fall weather today, and not just September’s version of autumn, but more of an early October feel in the air for our Tuesday.  This is thanks to a strong area of Canadian high pressure that is moving through the Upper Mississippi Valley, drawing in unseasonably cool, dry air from up north, allowing us to see 30s on the map for the first time since April and a few patches of frost as well.  The development of frost wasn’t a surprise for us, in fact there was less than we’d thought there might be thanks to some pesky clouds that blanketed much of southeastern Minnesota and northeastern Iowa for the middle portion of the overnight period, keeping temperatures up a few degrees.

Incidentally, the averages for this time of the year are 71/49 in Rochester.

 

Here are some local morning low temperatures:

MAX/MIN TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION TABLE FOR

THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI

905 AM CDT TUE SEP 18 2012

.BR LSE 0918 C DH01/TAIRZX/DH07/TAIRZP/PPDRZZ

:

: VALUES REPRESENT HIGHS YESTERDAY...LOWS OVER THE LAST 12 HOURS...

: AND PRECIPITATION OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS

:

:

:                                 HIGH   LOW   PCPN

:

TOB  : DODGE CENTER AWOS     MN :   63 /  39 / 0.21

AUM  : AUSTIN AWOS           MN :   63 /  37 / 0.09

RST  : ROCHESTER ASOS        MN :   62 /  39 / 0.16

FKA  : PRESTON AWOS          MN :   61 /  39 / 0.12

ONA  : WINONA AWOS           MN :   61 /  34 / 0.08

:

CCY  : CHARLES CITY AWOS     IA :   61 /  39 / 0.10

DEH  : DECORAH AWOS          IA :   63 /  41 / 0.07

OLZ  : OELWEIN AWOS          IA :   64 /  36 / 0.05

:

MDZ  : MEDFORD AWOS          WI :   63 /  34 /

BCK  : BLACK RIVER FALLS AWOSWI :   61 /  30 / 0.15

LSE  : LA CROSSE ASOS        WI :   65 /  39 / 0.15

CMY  : SPARTA-FT MCCOY AWOS  WI :   63 /  30 / 0.09

VOK  : VOLK FIELD ASOS       WI :   63 /  34 / 0.16

Y51  : VIROQUA AWOS          WI :   63 /  36 / 0.09

PDC  : PRAIRIE DU CHIEN AWOS WI :   66 /  39 / 0.03

OVS  : BOSCOBEL ASOS         WI :   71 /  34 / 0.04

PVB  : PLATTEVILLE AWOS      WI :   66 /  41 / M

:

.END

:

.BR LSE 0918 C DH07/TAIRZX/TAIRZN/PPDRZZ

:

:...OFFICIAL NWS COOPERATIVE OBSERVATIONS...

: VALUES REPRESENT 24 HOUR TOTALS AS OF THIS MORNING

:

:

:                                 TIME   HIGH  LOW   PCPN

:

:...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...

ALTM5: ALTURA 5W             MN : DH0700/     /     / 0.18

ASTM5: AUSTIN                MN : DH0700/  60 /  38 / 0.12

BYRM5: BYRON 4N              MN : DH0700/  61 /  33 / 0.19

CLDM5: CALEDONIA             MN : DH0700/  60 /  37 / 0.12

EGNM5: ELGIN 2SSW            MN : DH0700/     /     / 0.15

GMDM5: GRAND MEADOW          MN : DH0600/  59 /  39 / 0.13

LCRM5: LA CRESCENT DAM 7     MN : DH0600/     /     / 0.15

LAKM5: LAKE CITY             MN : DH0730/     /     / 0.03

LNBM5: LANESBORO             MN : DH0700/     /     / 0.12

MSCM5: MINNESOTA CITY DAM 5  MN : DH0600/     /     / 0.16

SPGM5: SPRING VALLEY         MN : DH0500/     /     / 0.12

THLM5: THEILMAN 1SSW         MN : DH0800/  62 /  33 / 0.11

WABM5: WABASHA               MN : DH0700/     /     / 0.06

WIDM5: WINONA DAM 5A         MN : DH0600/  62 /  42 / 0.10

:

:...NORTHEAST IOWA...

CIYI4: CHARLES CITY COOP     IA : DH0700/     /     / 0.11

CMTI4: CLERMONT              IA : DH0700/     /     / 0.10

CRCI4: CRESCO                IA : DH0700/  61 /  37 / 0.10

EKRI4: ELKADER 6SSW          IA : DH0700/  67 /  34 / 0.02

ELMI4: ELMA                  IA : DH0700/     /     / 0.06

FYTI4: FAYETTE               IA : DH0700/  66 /  38 / 0.06

GTTI4: GUTTENBERG DAM 10     IA : DH0600/     /     / 0.00

IONI4: IONIA 2W              IA : DH0700/     /     / 0.12

LSGI4: LANSING 4SE           IA : DH0700/     /     / 0.07

NHUI4: NASHUA 2SW            IA : DH0700/     /     / 0.09

NHPI4: NEW HAMPTON           IA : DH0700/  62 /  38 / 0.00

OSAI4: OSAGE                 IA : DH0700/  60 /  39 / 0.08

SANI4: ST ANSGAR             IA : DH0630/     /     / 0.14

WAUI4: WAUKON                IA : DH0600/  62 /  40 / 0.08

:

:...WESTERN WISCONSIN...

ALMW3: ALMA DAM 4            WI : DH0600/     /     / 0.03

BLKW3: BLACK RIVER FALLS STP WI : DH0830/     /     / 0.22

CBCW3: CUBA CITY             WI : DH0800/     /     / 0.00

FRSW3: FRIENDSHIP            WI : DH0700/  64 /  35 / 0.12

GENW3: GENOA DAM 8           WI : DH0600/     /     / 0.00

ARX  : LA CROSSE WFO         WI : DH0600/     /     / 0.16

LAFW3: LA FARGE              WI : DH0700/     /     / 0.10

LYNW3: LYNXVILLE DAM 9       WI : DH0600/     /     / 0.06

MATW3: MATHER 3NW            WI : DH0700/  63 /  36 / 0.22

MEDW3: MEDFORD               WI : DH0800/  54 /  31 / 0.10

NELW3: NEILLSVILLE 3SW       WI : DH0630/  61 /  34 / 0.16

OTRW3: ONTARIO 3E            WI : DH0700/     /     / 0.12

OWEW3: OWEN 2N               WI : DH0800/  54 /  29 / 0.11

PDCW3: PRAIRIE DU CHIEN      WI : DH0700/  68 /  40 / 0.05

RTNW3: READSTOWN 4NE         WI : DH0700/     /     / 0.11

RICW3: RICHLAND CENTER       WI : DH0700/  68 /  38 / 0.04

SOGW3: SOLDIERS GROVE        WI : DH0725/  64 /  35 / 0.09

SRTW3: SPARTA                WI : DH0800/  64 /  37 / 0.16

SBNW3: STEUBEN 4SE           WI : DH0700/     /     / 0.06

TREW3: TREMPEALEAU DAM 6     WI : DH0600/     /     / 0.16

VQAW3: VIROQUA               WI : DH0700/  62 /  35 / 0.09

WESW3: WESTBY 3ENE           WI : DH0700/     /     / 0.08

:

.END

&&

...OTHER COOPERATIVE OBSERVATIONS...

 VALUES REPRESENT 24 HOUR TOTALS AS OF THIS MORNING

                                        HIGH   LOW  PCPN

HLNM5   : HIGHLAND 2SE            MN :      /     / 0.11

SPVM5   : SPRING VALLEY 3SW       MN :      /     / 0.14

SPYM5   : SPRING VALLEY 3E        MN :      /     / 0.15

MNBDCRBK: SPRING VALLEY 1 NW      MN :      /     / 0.12

MNFM01  : CHATFIELD 9ESE          MN :      /     / 0.16

MNFM07  : PRESTON 3NNE            MN :      /     / 0.16

MNOL07  : BYRON 6S                MN :      /     / 0.20

MNWB04  : ZUMBRO FALLS 4SSW       MN :      /     / 0.16

MNWN02  : WINONA 4SE              MN :      /     / 0.11

MNWN03  : LEWISTON                MN :      /     / 0.12

MNWN04  : ROLLINGSTONE 2NW        MN :      /     / 0.15

MNWN05  : WINONA 5WSW             MN :      /     / 0.11

MNWN06  : STOCKTON                MN :      /     / 0.13

IAWH01  : DECORAH 8ENE            IA :      /     / 0.04

IACW02  : NEW HAMPTON             IA :      /     / 0.10

IAFY02  : OELWEIN 1WNW            IA :      /     / 0.00

MNOI4   : MONONA WWTP             IA :      /     / 0.06

VOLI4   : VOLGA 1NE               IA :      /     / 0.04

WIJK01  : BLACK RIVER FALLS 2NNE  WI :      /     / 0.18

WICR01  : GAYS MILLS 6SE          WI :      /     / 0.05

WITR03  : TREMPEALEAU 2NW         WI :      /     / 0.16

WIMN04  : WILTON 4E               WI :      /     / 0.11

ETTW3   : ETTRICK 4WNW            WI :   59 /  30 / 0.10

BFCW3   : FOUR CORNERS            WI :      /     / 0.06

GADW3   : GAD 6E                  WI :      /     / 0.31

GAVW3   : GALESVILLE 2WSW         WI :      /     / 0.15

HABW3   : HATFIELD DAM            WI :      /     / 0.24

HBOW3   : HILLSBORO WSW           WI :      /     / 0.04

HLMW3   : HOLMEN 1NW              WI :      /     / 0.17

HMNW3   : HOLMEN 2S               WI :   65 /  37 / 0.18

JMPW3   : JUMP RIVER 1NW          WI :      /     / 0.04

MROW3   : MONROE CENTER           WI :   67 /  41 / 0.19

NLIW3   : NEW LISBON 4ENE         WI :      /     / 0.11

OSOW3   : OSSEO                   WI :      /     / 0.08

RCCW3   : RICHLAND CENTER 1NW     WI :      /     / 0.06

STDW3   : STODDARD                WI :      /     / 0.11

WRNW3   : WARRENS 5WSW            WI :      /     / 0.22

WSAW3   : WEST SALEM              WI :      /     / 0.21

...OTHER AUTOMATED OBSERVATIONS...

 VALUES REPRESENT 24 HOUR TOTALS AS OF THIS MORNING

                                   HIGH   LOW   PCPN

ASNM5: AUSTIN 3S              MN :      /     / 0.01

DOBM5: AUSTIN 2NE             MN :      /     / 0.11

TRCM5: AUSTIN 3NW             MN :      /     / 0.15

BVRM5: BEAVER                 MN :      /     / 0.08

DVRM5: DOVER 1E               MN :      /     / 0.11

HOUM5: HOUSTON                MN :      /     / 0.14

KELM5: KELLOGG                MN :      /     / 0.04

LKCM5: LAKE CITY              MN :      /     / 0.03

LNSM5: LANESBORO              MN :      /     / 0.11

LANM5: LANSING                MN :      /     / 0.12

MDPM5: MOUND PRAIRIE          MN :      /     / 0.13

RBCM5: ROCHESTER BEAR CR      MN :      /     / 0.16

RCCM5: ROCHESTER CASCADE CR   MN :      /     / 0.18

ROCM5: ROCHESTER SILVER CR    MN :      /     / 0.18

SFZM5: ROCHESTER 5SW          MN :      /     / 0.17

RCHM5: ROCHESTER 37TH ST      MN :   66 /  39 /

RCSM5: ROCHESTER BELTLINE     MN :      /     / 0.10

WSPM5: WHITEWATER PARK        MN :      /     / 0.17

BLFI4: BLUFFTON               IA :      /     / 0.06

CCYI4: CHARLES CITY           IA :      /     / 0.03

DEHI4: DECORAH                IA :      /     / 0.06

DCHI4: DORCHESTER HWY 76      IA :      /     / 0.05

EDRI4: EL DORADO 1E           IA :      /     / 0.07

YRII4: ION                    IA :      /     / 0.03

MBRI4: MARQUETTE              IA :      /     / 0.04

MCGI4: MCGREGOR               IA :      /     / 0.14

CROI4: ORCHARD                IA :      /     / 0.08

YSPI4: YELLOW RIVER PARK      IA :   68 /  35 / 0.07

BBLW3: BOSCOBEL RAWS          WI :   67 /  36 / 0.03

BRFW3: BLACK RIVER FALLS      WI :      /     / 0.16

BFWW3: BLACK RIVER FALLS RAWS WI :   61 /  37 / 0.18

DDGW3: DODGE                  WI :      /     / 0.00

DHDW3: DAHLEN DAM             WI :      /     / 0.07

DMLW3: DIAMOND LAKE RAWS      WI :   55 /  29 / 0.06

HVDW3: HIDDEN VALLEY DAM      WI :      /     / 0.08

KKDW3: KLINKNER DAM           WI :      /     / 0.04

LACW3: LA CROSSE              WI :      /     / 0.17

MUSW3: MUSCODA                WI :      /     / 0.01

NEHW3: NECEDAH RAWS           WI :   64 /  37 / 0.15

NCHW3: NECEDAH 5WNW CRN       WI :   63 /  37 / 0.13

RHDW3: RUNGE HOLLOW DAM       WI :      /     / 0.04

SBDW3: SEAS BRANCH DAM        WI :      /     / 0.08

SBHW3: SEAS BRANCH HAUGEN     WI :      /     / 0.08

SIDW3: SIDIE HOLLOW DAM       WI :      /     / 0.04

STEW3: STEUBEN                WI :      /     / 0.05

TPDW3: THOMPSON DAM           WI :      /     / 0.08

YTDW3: YTTRI DAM              WI :      /     / 0.08

Posted under fall, weather

We are approaching the end of Meteorological Fall, it officially ends December 1st when we welcome Meteorological Winter.  It’s been no secret we have been very dry over the past couple of months, but just how dry?  Meteorological Fall contains the months September, October, and November.  Over the span of the those three months we have only picked up 3.14 inches of precipitation.  The graphic below breaks Meteorological Fall down month by month.

Here is a list from the National Weather Service of the Top 10 Driest Meteorological Falls all time.  This is the driest Fall since 1999.  Now we have three days to go until this number can officially be put into the books, but the next chnace for precip is a slight one coming on Thursday, which marks the first day of Meteorological Winter, so these numbers will likely stand.  If we do in fact get no precip in the next 3 days the 3.14 will be the 8th driest in history, moving the current 8th place 3.15 to ninth all time.  I also want to note that October as a single month was the 5th driest October of all time.  It is just crazy how dry we have been as of late.

Wettest		Driest
1) 14.91	1986	1) 1.49	1976
2) 13.48	1911	2) 2.34	1944
3) 12.21	1970	3) 2.48	1953
4) 11.81	1973	4) 2.60	1910
5) 11.73	1934	5) 2.66	1999
6) 11.64	1972	6) 2.71	1939
7) 11.50	1983	7) 2.87	1952
8 ) 11.33	1931	8 ) 3.15	1888
9) 11.09	1993	9) 3.27	1955
10) 11.02	1978	10) 3.32	1950

Posted under climate, Drought, fall, history, rainfall, Uncategorized, weather

While we’ve been basking in the warmth of an early October “heat wave,” the fall foliage around us has been changing quickly and now the colors have essentially reached their peak.  The latest fall foliage outlook from the Minnesota DNR has placed the majority of the state in the “peak” category while most of our corner of the state is getting really close.  If you haven’t been able to get out and fully enjoy those colors, now is the time to make an extra effort to do that as a large storm system to our west is going to really crank up the winds over the next couple of days and even spread some showers across our area over the weekend and early next week, potentially bringing an end to the best part of our fall color viewing this season.  We’ve been enjoying all sorts of viewer photos in the past few weeks showing the brilliance of our colors and hope to receive many more before this autumn is finished.  Thanks to those who have been sharing those pictures with us.  We’d love to see more!

Posted under fall

The Minnesota DNR has a good explanation of not only the peak of fall foliage in the state of Minnesota, but the science as well as to why the leaves change colors.  It’s pretty cool!  take a look!  You will notice that we have had a bunch of factors that contribute to the color happen recently.  The show looks to be great in a couple of weeks.

 

 

Typical peak color

Posted under fall

Here’s the latest update from the Minnesota DNR Fall Colors page

 

There are pockets of southeast Minnesota which are already showing some brilliant color. This weekend’s weather will be absolutely perfect for going out and taking in the outdoors. Fall colors will be the best of the season next week and the following weekend – the 8th/9th of October.

Taking pictures? Send some our way. I’d love to feature them in my weathercasts the next few weeks. Email us: weather [at] kttc [d0t] com.

Posted under fall, fall photos

We’ve been feeling very fall-like for most of the month up to this point, but now as of 4:05 this morning, it’s officially fall, or as we in the weather business call it, astronomical fall.  Basically, this refers to the direct rays of the sun reaching the Earth at the equator today after having spent the past six months in the northern hemisphere, north of the equator.  Yes, it’s the day of the autumnal equinox!  The sun’s rays are already south of the equator and won’t begin to climb northward until they’ve reached the Tropic of Cancer on the winter solstice which is December 21st, signifying the start of astronomical winter.  Interestingly enough, the term “equinox” refers to equal night as this is typically when the entire world experiences 12 hours of day and night, but because sunset doesn’t officially occur until the sun is below the horizon and sunrise occurs when the sun reaches the horizon in the east, there is a slight difference of a few minutes on both ends as the equinox uses the center point of the sun on the horizon.  For instance, today in Rochester the sunrise is 6:58 am and sunset is 7:06 pm.  We’ll officially see 12 hours of daylight on Monday when sunrise will be at 7:01 am and sunset will be at 7:00 pm.

Anyway, what a beautiful example of fine fall weather we have going for us today!  We’ll enjoy plenty of sunshine through the afternoon with very light winds and highs in the 60s.  Tonight will be a gorgeous night for Friday night high school football and there are a number of homecoming celebrations going on.  Below is a look at your football forecast:

 

If you’re thinking about taking advantage of some of our pleasant fall weather this weekend by seeking out and enjoying some fall colors, here a link to the DNR:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fall_colors/index.html

Posted under fall

The second cold front in as many days has swept through the region, drawing in some much cooler air for us and bringing a taste of October to the area.  After a blustery, somewhat chilly day today we’ll have a calm, clear, and chilly night tonight, setting the stage for our first frost.  You might be thinking it’s a little early for that and you would be correct with that thinking because the average first frost locally is around October 1st.  We’re essentially two weeks ahead of schedule in that respect, but fall typically does feature a lot of variety in our region and every year is a little different.  The coldest locations overnight are expected to be in the west and northwest locally while some low lying areas will be rather cold as well with upper 20s possible meaning a hard freeze, or in other words, an end to the growing season.  The rest of us will deal with a touch of frost with temperatures in the lower 30s expected.  Be sure to cover those outdoor plants and gardens overnight or bring them indoors if possible to protect them from the bite of the cold.  After this cold night, we’ll have a sunny, cool, but mainly calm and tranquil Thursday followed by a night that won’t be quite as cold Thursday night, so frost won’t be nearly as widespread.  A warming trend will then continue through the end of the week and through the weekend.