Snow lovers rejoiced last week when we registered the greatest snowfall in a couple of years in our area with 5 to 8 inches measured in most parts of southeastern Minnesota, but not everybody shared that sentiment. There are a lot of people who are thinking ahead to warmer days and hoping for a little bit of spring the air and have even asked if there are any signs that a patten shift is a ahead that could bring such a change in our weather. This time around, that actually does not look to be the case.  Unlike last year and even 2010, two of the past three years that have featured an early arrival of spring, our pattern right now look to remain cool, mostly gray, and just a little snowy, or potentially snowy. As we approach the first of March which is the beginning of “meteorological spring” our average highs climb above freezing and in March typically make their way quickly into the mid 30s and then 40s. Our curent trend looks to feature close to normal if not slightly below normal temperatures for the next couple of weeks as a northwesterly flow looks to dominate the upper levels of the atmosphere, keeping things chilly and kind of February-like. Currently there are only a couple of chances of light snow in the forecast, one Tuesday night into Wednesday and another next Monday, but this type of pattern may keep those little doses of snow around off and on for a while with extra clouds around few signs of spring-like sunshine and full scale melting. The overall outlook for March from the Climate Prediction Center is for warmer than normal temperatures and wetter than normal weather for March, but the latest first half outlook keeps things cooler than normal and drier than normal. Maybe that means the second half will be a whole lot warmer, or maybe the monthly outlook is just wrong (that wouldn’t be the first time!) Anyway, the gist of the story here is that we’ll have to be patient while waiting for spring’s arrival and maybe enjoy the snow we have on the ground.

The Climate Center’s outlook for March calls for an increased chance for warmer than normal temperatures in the month.

The Climate Center’s current outlook for March calls for a wetter than nornal month.

Posted under climate

What a difference a day makes!  We had such a cold, blustery, gray start to the week with 30s and 40s across the local map on Monday, but now with a massive blast of warm air affecting us today to go with some nice late March sunshine, we’re talking about near record warmth again.  A Wind Advisory is in effect until 7:00 this evening for most of the KTTC viewing area as a storm system to our north is working to not only pull in some unseasonably mild air for our Tuesday, but it’s doing so with the help of some 40 to 50 mile per hour wind gusts.  Look for those gusts to remain strong through the heart of the afternoon and then subside this evening.  A cold front will slide through the area this afternoon, leveling off those temperatures in the lower and middle 70s, but keeping those winds quite gusty.  A second front on the tail end of that storm system to our north will ten draw in some more seasonably cool weather for tonight and tomorrow with a slight west breeze ahead for our Wednesday and highs in the 50s.  Incidentally, the record high for today in Rochester is 74, and we’ll be right around that through the afternoon.

Here are some of the peak wind gusts from across the area today:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1114 AM CDT TUE MAR 27 2012

...HIGHEST WINDS ACROSS THE AREA SINCE MIDNIGHT...

...WISCONSIN...

...VERNON COUNTY...

VIROQUA AWOS (1292 FT)(AWOS)                    735 AM MAR 27     35 MPH

...TAYLOR COUNTY...

MEDFORD (1470 FT)(AWOS)                         935 AM MAR 27     33 MPH
3 NE LUBLIN (1316 FT)(RAWS)                     914 AM MAR 27     32 MPH

...MONROE COUNTY...

SPARTA (AWOS)                                  1035 AM MAR 27     33 MPH
KENDALL (1059 FT)(APRSWXNET)                   1001 AM MAR 27     31 MPH

...LA CROSSE COUNTY...

LA CROSSE ASOS (654 FT)(ASOS)                  1004 AM MAR 27     39 MPH
1 SW LA CROSSE (639 FT)(APRSWXNET)              836 AM MAR 27     30 MPH
1 WSW ONALASKA (682 FT)(APRSWXNET)              941 AM MAR 27     28 MPH

...JUNEAU COUNTY...

MAUSTON (872 FT)(APRSWXNET)                    1012 AM MAR 27     35 MPH
NECEDAH 1W (920 FT)(GOES)                       948 AM MAR 27     34 MPH
VOLK FIELD AP (906 FT)(ASOS)                    926 AM MAR 27     32 MPH

...GRANT COUNTY...

4 SE PLATTEVILLE (1023 FT)(AWOS)                555 AM MAR 27     30 MPH

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN (658 FT)(AWOS)                 835 AM MAR 27     28 MPH

...MINNESOTA...

...WINONA COUNTY...

1 E RIDGEWAY (1318 FT)(MNDOT)                   801 AM MAR 27     44 MPH
WINONA AWOS (AWOS)                              713 AM MAR 27     25 MPH

...WABASHA COUNTY...

2 SSE KELLOGG (741 FT)(MNDOT)                   629 AM MAR 27     31 MPH
1 E LAKE CITY (692 FT)(APRSWXNET)              1139 PM MAR 26     30 MPH
1 NE BEAR VALLEY (1000 FT)(APRSWXNET)           910 AM MAR 27     29 MPH

...OLMSTED COUNTY...

ROCHESTER ASOS (ASOS)                           654 AM MAR 27     45 MPH
2 SE EYOTA (1309 FT)(MNDOT)                     336 AM MAR 27     43 MPH
MAYO HELIPAD (1164 FT)(AWOS)                    733 AM MAR 27     41 MPH
4 NW ROCHESTER (1273 FT)(APRSWXNET)             701 AM MAR 27     41 MPH
1 WSW ROCHESTER (1205 FT)(APRSWXNET)            703 AM MAR 27     39 MPH
1 SSE STEWARTVILLE (1253 FT)(APRSWXNET)         719 AM MAR 27     34 MPH

...MOWER COUNTY...

1 ENE DEXTER (1410 FT)(MNDOT)                   431 AM MAR 27     42 MPH
AUSTIN (AWOS)                                  1036 AM MAR 27     35 MPH
4 E GRAND MEADOW (1322 FT)(IEM)                1009 AM MAR 27     31 MPH

...FILLMORE COUNTY...

PRESTON (930 FT)(AWOS)                          854 AM MAR 27     38 MPH
2 ESE CANTON (1348 FT)(MNDOT)                  1019 AM MAR 27     38 MPH

...DODGE COUNTY...

2 E KASSON (1283 FT)(MNDOT)                     602 AM MAR 27     43 MPH
2 E KASSON (1283 FT)(APRSWXNET)                 640 AM MAR 27     42 MPH
DODGE CENTER (1305 FT)(AWOS)                    514 AM MAR 27     40 MPH
1 W DODGE CENTER (1273 FT)(IEM)                1009 AM MAR 27     31 MPH

...IOWA...

...WINNESHIEK COUNTY...

4 E NORDNESS (1017 FT)(IADOT)                   707 AM MAR 27     31 MPH
DECORAH (850 FT)(AWOS)                          755 AM MAR 27     30 MPH

...MITCHELL COUNTY...

SAINT ANSGAR (1145 FT)(APRSWXNET)               244 AM MAR 27     30 MPH
SAINT ANSGAR (1145 FT)(IEM)                     159 AM MAR 27     25 MPH

...HOWARD COUNTY...

1 ENE CRESCO (1279 FT)(IEM)                    1014 AM MAR 27     25 MPH

...FLOYD COUNTY...

CHARLES CITY (1014 FT)(AWOS)                    215 AM MAR 27     35 MPH

...FAYETTE COUNTY...

OELWEIN (AWOS)                                 1255 AM MAR 27     35 MPH

...CLAYTON COUNTY...

MONONA (1213 FT)(AWS)                           745 AM MAR 27     26 MPH

...CHICKASAW COUNTY...

2 N IONIA (1072 FT)(IADOT)                      655 AM MAR 27     37 MPH

Posted under wind

We’ve talked at great length about the incredible warmth and number of records that have been shattered this month of March, highlighting of course the strong likelihood that this will prove to be the warmest March EVER in Rochester history.  We should also isolate the current warm spell of this amazing mild pattern to truly appreciate what has happened.  We’ve broken eight record highs since March 10th, averaging 76° for highs with lows consistently staying in the 50s and 60s.  Those numbers are more typical of what we might see around Memorial Day weekend or even early June.  When you consider that we’ve touched 80° twice and dew points this week have been in the 60s a few times, that certainly is June-like and while we won’t have so much of the June weather ahead in the next week, we will have some incredibly mild weather at least through the middle of upcoming week.  Even after that, we’ll stay above normal with 50s to near 60 at least through the early part of April.

In the past two weeks, we've been warmer than normal by an average of 30 degrees each day and records have been falling consistently.

Posted under climate

The warm, dry, gusty conditions we experienced over the weekend served as a reminder to us that we’re a little deficient in rainfall right now and certainly could use some more if we’re going to reduce the wildfire threat.  Thanks to some light to moderate showers last night and early this morning, things are looking a little better for us.  Totals ranged from a few hundredths of an inch to more than half an inch, so it wasn’t a major rainfall producer, but rather a nice, gentle rain that will seep into the soil and moisten things up a bit.  We’ll have just a few sparse, light showers from time to time today as that rain producing storm system slides through the area, but then we’ll have to wait until Friday or the weekend for another decent chance for some rain.  Between now and then we will be experiencing more of those warm, dry breezes, so by then we’ll probably be in need of a few soaking showers to hopefully green things up or at least just reduce the wildfire hazard in general.  We’re going to be having April or even May-like warmth this week with 60s Tuesday and a lot of lower 70 degree highs between Wednesday and Sunday.  The rainfall deficit for the month in Rochester including today’s rain is around a quarter of an inch and for the year, we actually have a slight surplus, but it’s the overall situation from last years extremely dry finale that leaves us needing a little more and if the forecast for the weekend and early next week holds up, we’ll make progress in that area.

Here’s a look at rainfall totals in the area from the past 24 hours:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1038 AM CDT MON MAR 12 2012

...24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS ACROSS THE AREA...

LOCATION                   RAINFALL    TIME     LAT/LON

NORTHEAST IOWA

...ALLAMAKEE COUNTY...
WAUKON                     0.34        0700 AM  43.27N 91.47W
LANSING 4SE                0.32        0700 AM  43.32N 91.16W
DORCHESTER HIGHWAY 76      0.30        0700 AM  43.42N 91.51W
ION                        0.28        0700 AM  43.11N 91.27W

...CHICKASAW COUNTY...
NEW HAMPTON                0.55        0700 AM  43.06N 92.31W
IONIA                      0.51        0700 AM  43.03N 92.50W

...CLAYTON COUNTY...
STRAWBERRY POINT           0.51        0700 AM  42.69N 91.53W
ELKADER 6SSW               0.38        0700 AM  42.79N 91.45W
VOLGA                      0.27        0700 AM  42.81N 91.52W
ELKADER                    0.23        0700 AM  42.84N 91.40W
EDGEWOOD                   0.22        0700 AM  42.65N 91.40W
LITTLEPORT                 0.21        0700 AM  42.75N 91.37W
MARQUETTE                  0.17        0700 AM  43.04N 91.21W
GUTTENBERG                 0.15        0700 AM  42.79N 91.10W
MCGREGOR                   0.12        0700 AM  43.02N 91.17W
GARBER                     0.11        0700 AM  42.74N 91.26W

...FAYETTE COUNTY...
OELWEIN AWOS               0.36        0700 AM  42.68N 91.97W
CLERMONT                   0.30        0700 AM  43.00N 91.66W
ELDORADO                   0.29        0700 AM  43.05N 91.81W
FAYETTE                    0.24        0700 AM  42.85N 91.82W
WEST UNION                 0.20        0700 AM

...FLOYD COUNTY...
CHARLES CITY AWOS          0.57        0700 AM  43.07N 92.61W
CHARLES CITY COOP          0.43        0700 AM  43.08N 92.67W
NASHUA                     0.42        0700 AM  42.94N 92.57W
CHARLES CITY CEDAR RVR     0.34        0700 AM  43.06N 92.67W

...HOWARD COUNTY...
ELMA                       0.42        0700 AM  43.24N 92.44W
CRESCO                     0.33        0700 AM  43.37N 92.11W

...MITCHELL COUNTY...
OSAGE                      0.52        0700 AM  43.28N 92.81W
ST ANSGAR                  0.50        0700 AM  43.37N 92.83W

...WINNESHIEK COUNTY...
BLUFFTON                   0.28        0700 AM  43.41N 91.90W
DECORAH AWOS               0.28        0700 AM  43.28N 91.74W
CALMAR                     0.26        0700 AM  43.18N 91.87W
DECORAH                    0.26        0700 AM  43.30N 91.80W

SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA

...DODGE COUNTY...
DODGE CENTER AWOS          0.26        0700 AM  44.03N 92.83W

...FILLMORE COUNTY...
PILOT MOUND                0.38        0700 AM  43.78N 92.03W
HARMONY                    0.33        0700 AM  43.55N 92.01W
SPRING VALLEY              0.31        0700 AM  43.69N 92.39W
PRESTON                    0.30        0700 AM  43.67N 92.07W
CARIMONA                   0.30        0700 AM  43.66N 92.15W
LANESBORO                  0.30        0700 AM  43.72N 91.97W
SPRING VALLEY 3E           0.29        0700 AM  43.68N 92.33W
SPRING VALLEY 1 NW         0.26        0700 AM  43.70N 92.40W
PRESTON AWOS               0.26        0700 AM  43.68N 92.18W
HIGHLAND                   0.26        0700 AM  43.65N 91.84W

...HOUSTON COUNTY...
SPRING GROVE 4N            0.30        0700 AM  43.61N 91.62W
CALEDONIA                  0.27        0700 AM  43.63N 91.50W
LA CRESCENT 1NNW           0.23        0700 AM  43.83N 91.31W
HOUSTON                    0.20        0700 AM  43.77N 91.57W
MOUND PRAIRIE              0.16        0700 AM  43.78N 91.45W
BROWNSVILLE                0.16        0700 AM  43.70N 91.27W

...MOWER COUNTY...
AUSTIN                     0.46        0700 AM  43.67N 92.95W
LANSING                    0.45        0700 AM  43.75N 92.95W
GRAND MEADOW               0.40        0700 AM  43.71N 92.56W
AUSTIN 3S                  0.37        0700 AM  43.62N 93.00W
AUSTIN AWOS                0.30        0700 AM  43.67N 92.93W

...OLMSTED COUNTY...
POST TOWN                  0.37        0700 AM  44.09N 92.82W
ELGIN                      0.31        0700 AM  44.10N 92.27W
DOVER                      0.31        0700 AM  44.01N 92.11W
ROCHESTER ASOS             0.30        0700 AM  43.90N 92.48W
ROCHESTER - CASCADE CREEK  0.29        0700 AM  44.03N 92.48W
ROCHESTER - SILVER CREEK   0.29        0700 AM  44.03N 92.42W
ROCHESTER - BEAR CREEK     0.27        0700 AM  43.92N 92.48W
ROCHESTER BELTLINE         0.25        0700 AM  43.91N 92.50W
ROCHESTER AP 2NE           0.22        0700 AM  43.93N 92.48W

...WABASHA COUNTY...
LAKE CITY COOP             0.46        0700 AM  44.43N 92.28W
THEILMAN                   0.42        0700 AM  44.28N 92.19W
WABASHA                    0.35        0700 AM  44.39N 92.05W
KELLOGG                    0.24        0700 AM  44.32N 92.00W
LAKE CITY                  0.20        0700 AM  44.45N 92.26W

...WINONA COUNTY...
ALTURA 5W                  0.33        0700 AM  44.06N 92.04W
MINNESOTA CITY             0.21        0700 AM  44.16N 91.81W
WINONA                     0.20        0700 AM  44.09N 91.67W
ALTURA                     0.20        0700 AM  44.15N 92.01W
DAKOTA                     0.14        0700 AM  43.92N 91.37W
WINONA AWOS                0.14        0700 AM  44.08N 91.70W
LA CRESCENT DAM 7          0.13        0700 AM  43.87N 91.31W

SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN

...ADAMS COUNTY...
FRIENDSHIP                 0.20        0700 AM  43.98N 89.83W

...BUFFALO COUNTY...
MONDOVI 6S                 0.36        0700 AM  44.48N 91.67W
ALMA DAM 4                 0.28        0700 AM  44.33N 91.92W

...CLARK COUNTY...
OWEN                       0.35        0700 AM  44.98N 90.55W
NEILLSVILLE                0.29        0700 AM  44.56N 90.61W
NEILLSVILLE 3SW            0.28        0700 AM  44.53N 90.64W

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN           0.26        0700 AM  43.05N 91.13W
SOLDIERS GROVE             0.25        0700 AM  43.39N 90.78W
LYNXVILLE DAM 9            0.21        0700 AM  43.21N 91.10W
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN AWOS      0.19        0700 AM  43.30N 89.76W

...GRANT COUNTY...
SINSINAWA                  0.22        0700 AM  42.52N 90.54W
CUBA CITY                  0.20        0700 AM  42.63N 90.46W
BOSCOBEL ASOS              0.19        0700 AM  43.16N 90.68W
BOSCOBEL RAWS              0.18        0700 AM  43.15N 90.68W
PLATTEVILLE AWOS           0.12        0700 AM  42.69N 90.44W

...JACKSON COUNTY...
HATFIELD HYDRO PLANT       0.30        0700 AM  44.39N 90.76W
MATHER 3NW                 0.20        0700 AM  44.17N 90.35W
BLACK RIVER FALLS RAWS     0.17        0700 AM  44.30N 90.84W
BLACK RIVER FALLS          0.15        0700 AM  44.38N 90.84W

...JUNEAU COUNTY...
NEW LISBON 4ENE            0.26        0700 AM  43.91N 90.07W
NECEDAH                    0.23        0700 AM  44.00N 90.04W
NECEDAH 1W                 0.23        0700 AM  44.02N 90.08W
NECEDAH 5WNW               0.18        0700 AM  44.06N 90.17W

...LA CROSSE COUNTY...
LA CROSSE WEATHER          0.22        0700 AM  43.82N 91.19W
HOLLAND                    0.20        0700 AM  43.97N 91.29W
HOLMEN 2S                  0.19        0700 AM  43.93N 91.25W
LA CROSSE ASOS             0.14        0700 AM  43.88N 91.26W
LA CROSSE                  0.11        0700 AM  43.80N 91.37W

...MONROE COUNTY...
CATARACT                   0.15        0700 AM  44.08N 90.85W
FOUR CORNERS               0.14        0700 AM  44.07N 90.92W
WARRENS                    0.13        0700 AM  44.10N 90.59W
TUNNEL CITY                0.12        0700 AM  44.01N 90.57W

...RICHLAND COUNTY...
RICHLAND CENTER 1NW        0.36        0700 AM  43.36N 90.42W

...TAYLOR COUNTY...
MEDFORD                    0.37        0700 AM  45.13N 90.34W
JUMP RIVER                 0.35        0700 AM  45.36N 90.80W
LUBLIN DIAMOND LAKE        0.30        0700 AM  45.11N 90.69W

...TREMPEALEAU COUNTY...
OSSEO                      0.32        0700 AM  44.58N 91.22W
GALESVILLE 3ENE            0.21        0700 AM  44.09N 91.29W
BLAIR 2NW                  0.20        0700 AM  44.31N 91.27W
GALESVILLE 2WSW            0.19        0700 AM  44.07N 91.39W
TREMPEALEAU DAM 6          0.18        0700 AM  44.00N 91.44W

...VERNON COUNTY...
DESOTO 1SE                 0.28        0700 AM  43.41N 91.19W
READSTOWN                  0.28        0700 AM  43.45N 90.76W
VIROQUA                    0.27        0700 AM  43.55N 90.90W
WESTBY 3ENE                0.22        0700 AM  43.68N 90.81W
LA FARGE                   0.21        0700 AM  43.57N 90.64W
ONTARIO 3E                 0.19        0700 AM  43.72N 90.60W

Posted under rainfall, rainfall amounts, Uncategorized

Spring has certainly been taking its time in showing up this year after our long, cold, and snowy winter.  Our current sunny weather pattern has finally been feeling a little warmer for us as slightly milder air is beginning to flow into the region on the back side of the large area of high pressure that has been instrumental in keeping us dry and sunny for several days now.  However, as we’ve seen a few times this month already, spring will only be here for a brief moment today before a storm system tomorrow brings clouds and unsettled weather for the last day of March.  It looks like March will go out like a lion tomorrow because of the gloomy, damp weather we’re expecting, but nothing too devastating is expected other than a few wet snowflakes mixing with the rain as things cool off in the evening.  April, on the other hand, may be starting out on a wintry note as there will be enough cold air aloft to produce a little snow Friday morning, especially on grassy locations and in the higher ridge tops of southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.  Only a light “dusting” is expected and anything that fall will likely melt during the day Friday as rain and near 40 degree weather is expected.  It’ll be a great opportunity for Mother Nature to show her sense of humor on April Fool’s Day. 

The latest Climate Prediction Center 30 Day Outlook has us looking pretty cool and brisk through April.The latest Climate Prediction Center forecast for April has our area looking wetter than normal.

The latest Climate Prediction Center forecast has our area looking wetter than normal for April.

 Looking ahead at the longer term weather outlook, we are seeing more of this cool theme where we’re consistently experiencing “retro weather” or weather that would have been typical of a month or season ago.  The month of April, according to the latest forecast from the Climate Prediction Center, is expected to feature cooler than normal temperatures across our area and for the northwestern quarter of the contiguous United States while higher than normal amounts of rainfall will be likely for our area as well.  It even appears that this cool pattern will hold out beyond the upcoming month and through May and June before modifying a bit and becoming more “normal” for the latter portion of summer, so we’re really going to have to be patient if we’re waiting for good local beach weather!  This long term delay in spring and summertime warmth is attributable to a global La Nina pattern in the central Pacific Ocean, the same pattern or “phase” that produced our colder than normal winter, leading to the eighth snowiest season in Rochester’s climate history.  We’ve measured 66.3 inches so far since last fall and 52 inches would be considered average, or typical.

Posted under climate

It’s certainly been a miserable, yet interesting day so far as far as our local weather goes.  We started the day with a round of thunderstorms just aftermidnight that rumbled through the Rochester area at about 2:30, producing pea sized hail and heavy rainfall.  We picked up about 0.30 inches in northwest Rochester in that hour long shower and the landscape was thoroughly covered in small hail.  Some people in Rochester reported almost an inch of hail covering their yards before dawn from this event. 

Pea sized hail covered the parking lot at KTTC before dawn this morning and then again in the mid morning hours.

A second round of enhanced precipitation, possibly involving elevated thunderstorms, came through the area at about 8:30 am, and dropped anouht quarter of an inch ofrain and produced some small hail as well as some sleet, or ice pellets.  It’s a little difficult to say exactly if it was one or the other or both as surface temperatures cooled to 34 degrees during that round of moderate precipitation and temperatures aloft were close to freezing as well.  It’s possible that hail formed along a line of weak thunderstorms and then as the air became dynamically cooled, sleet followed. 

The second round of heavy rain and hail as seen on NEXRAD radar here at the station. The enhanced rain echoes of yellow to the east of Rochester were associated with what appeared to be hail and the purple echoes behind that line were associated with the sleet that passed through the area, lingering for several minutes.

We’ll have some more showers in the area today and this evening with a chance for some thunderstorms, some possibly producing soem small hail at times.  There will be an even better chance for some sleet mixing with that rain late tonight and tomorrow as colder air filters into the area behind this storm system as it moves to the east.  A little snow is expected tomorrow as well.  This is definitely quintessential March weather for southeastern Minnesota!

Posted under hail

It was wet and sticky and it got slushier as we went through the day, but the snowfall from our midweek winter storm occurred over about 12 hours and then got out of town quickly, leaving behind a light to moderate coating of white on the landscape.  Here’s a look at the totals from the event that lasted from Tuesday evening to Wednesday midday in most of the area.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1017 AM CST THU MAR 10 2011

  …MARCH 8TH AND 9TH TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS…

Posted under snowfall amounts