Well, it took three weeks, but we finally managed to get a good soaking round of thunderstorms in the area last night and early this morning.  While there were a number of Severe Thunderstorm Warnings as well as some reports of damage from lightning, the rain was very beneficial for a large portion of our local viewing area.  As with most summertime thunderstorm events, the rainfall totals varied quite a bit with some spots receiving a couple of inches while others measured a little more than a trace.  There still exists a chance for some more thunderstorms today and this evening as things remain rather, humid, and unstable, so hopefully some of those areas that missed out on the soaking showers will get another opportunity today.  There is however a chance for severe weather today and this evening with damaging winds looking to be the greatest threat.

The estern two-thirds of our area is in the Slight Risk category for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.

Here’s a look at some of the local rainfall totals from this morning’s thunderstorms:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
815 AM CDT TUE AUG 23 2011

   …24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS ACROSS THE AREA…

LOCATION                   RAINFALL    TIME     LAT/LON

IOWA

…ALLAMAKEE COUNTY…
WAUKON                                                          0.94        0700 AM  43.27N 91.47W
DORCHESTER HIGHWAY 76                   0.92        0700 AM  43.42N 91.51W
POSTVILLE                                                      0.87        0700 AM  43.09N 91.56W
ION                                                                      0.68        0700 AM  43.11N 91.27W
HARPERS FERRY                                           0.61        0700 AM  43.17N 91.24W

…CHICKASAW COUNTY…
IONIA                                                                  0.52        0700 AM  43.03N 92.50W
NEW HAMPTON                                              0.50        0700 AM  43.06N 92.31W

…CLAYTON COUNTY…
ELKADER                                                           0.87        0700 AM  42.84N 91.40W
VOLGA                                                                0.83        0700 AM  42.81N 91.52W
LITTLEPORT                                                     0.63        0700 AM  42.75N 91.37W
GUTTENBERG                                                  0.59        0700 AM  42.79N 91.10W
MCGREGOR                                                       0.53        0700 AM  43.02N 91.17W
MARQUETTE                                                    0.42        0700 AM  43.04N 91.21W
GARBER                                                              0.39        0700 AM  42.74N 91.26W

…FAYETTE COUNTY…
FAYETTE                                                            1.16        0700 AM  42.85N 91.82W
ELDORADO                                                        0.91        0700 AM  43.05N 91.81W
OELWEIN AWOS                                              0.51        0700 AM  42.68N 91.97W

…FLOYD COUNTY…
CHARLES CITY AWOS                                    0.69        0700 AM  43.07N 92.61W
COLWELL                                                            0.66        0700 AM  43.16N 92.59W
CHARLES CITY COOP                                     0.51        0700 AM  43.08N 92.67W
CHARLES CITY CEDAR RVR                        0.49        0700 AM  43.06N 92.67W

…HOWARD COUNTY…
CRESCO                                                                  1.34        0700 AM  43.37N 92.11W

…MITCHELL COUNTY…
OSAGE                                                                     0.91        0700 AM  43.28N 92.81W
ST ANSGAR                                                          0.86        0700 AM  43.37N 92.83W

…WINNESHIEK COUNTY…
DECORAH AWOS                                              0.82        0700 AM  43.28N 91.74W
WAUCOMA                                                          0.61        0700 AM  43.05N 92.04W
BLUFFTON                                                          0.50        0700 AM  43.41N 91.90W

MINNESOTA

…DODGE COUNTY…
DODGE CENTER AWOS                                 0.12        0700 AM  44.03N 92.83W

…FILLMORE COUNTY…
HIGHLAND                                                       1.03        0700 AM  43.65N 91.84W
HARMONY                                                       0.69        0700 AM  43.55N 92.01W
LANESBORO                                                     0.45        0700 AM  43.72N 91.97W
PRESTON AWOS                                              0.36        0700 AM  43.68N 92.18W
CARIMONA                                                      0.35        0700 AM  43.66N 92.15W
PILOT MOUND                                                0.27        0700 AM  43.78N 92.03W
SPRING VALLEY                                            0.26        0700 AM  43.69N 92.39W
SPRING VALLEY 3E                                      0.17        0700 AM  43.68N 92.33W

…HOUSTON COUNTY…
HOUSTON                                                          0.96        0700 AM  43.77N 91.57W
MOUND PRAIRIE                                          0.77        0700 AM  43.78N 91.45W
CALEDONIA 1 NW                                         0.45        0700 AM  43.62N 91.48W
BROWNSVILLE                                                0.25        0700 AM  43.70N 91.27W

…MOWER COUNTY…
AUSTIN 3S                                                          0.51        0700 AM  43.62N 93.00W
AUSTIN                                                                0.43        0700 AM  43.67N 92.95W
LANSING                                                             0.13        0700 AM  43.75N 92.95W
GRAND MEADOW                                            0.10        0700 AM  43.71N 92.56W

…OLMSTED COUNTY…
ELBA                                                                     0.48        0700 AM  44.05N 92.05W
ELGIN                                                                   0.47        0700 AM  44.10N 92.27W
POST TOWN                                                        0.12        0700 AM  44.09N 92.82W
ROCHESTER – CASCADE CREEK                 0.10        0700 AM  44.03N 92.48W
ROCHESTER BELTLINE                                 0.09        0700 AM  43.91N 92.50W
ROCHESTER – SILVER CREEK                    0.08        0700 AM  44.03N 92.42W
ROCHESTER – BEAR CREEK                        0.06        0700 AM  43.92N 92.48W

…WABASHA COUNTY…
WABASHA                                                           0.65        0700 AM  44.39N 92.05W
KELLOGG                                                             0.60        0700 AM  44.32N 92.00W
LAKE CITY                                                          0.10        0700 AM  44.45N 92.26W
LAKE CITY COOP                                             0.08        0700 AM  44.43N 92.28W

…WINONA COUNTY…
ALTURA                                                             0.30        0700 AM  44.15N 92.01W
DAKOTA                                                             0.25        0700 AM  43.92N 91.37W
MINNESOTA CITY                                         0.22        0700 AM  44.16N 91.81W
LA CRESCENT DAM 7                                   0.20        0700 AM  43.87N 91.31W
WINONA                                                             0.14        0700 AM  44.09N 91.67W
WINONA AWOS                                               0.10        0700 AM  44.08N 91.70W

WISCONSIN

…ADAMS COUNTY…
FRIENDSHIP                                                      0.01        0700 AM  43.98N 89.83W

…BUFFALO COUNTY…
ALMA DAM 4                                                     0.71        0700 AM  44.33N 91.92W

…CLARK COUNTY…
NEILLSVILLE 3SW                                            0.04        0700 AM  44.53N 90.64W
NEILLSVILLE                                                      0.01        0700 AM  44.56N 90.61W
  
…CRAWFORD COUNTY…
STEUBEN                                                                0.98        0700 AM  43.18N 90.87W
STEUBEN 4SE                                                       0.96        0700 AM  43.13N 90.84W
LYNXVILLE DAM 9                                          0.60        0700 AM  43.21N 91.10W
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN AWOS                            0.58        0700 AM  43.30N 89.76W
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN                                         0.55        0700 AM  43.05N 91.13W

…GRANT COUNTY…
BOSCOBEL RAWS                                              0.93        0700 AM  43.15N 90.68W
CUBA CITY                                                         0.48        0700 AM  42.63N 90.46W
ROCKVILLE                                                      0.43        0700 AM  42.73N 90.64W
BOSCOBEL ASOS                                              0.08        0700 AM  43.16N 90.68W

…JACKSON COUNTY…
BLACK RIVER FALLS RAWS                      0.08        0700 AM  44.30N 90.84W
BLACK RIVER FALLS                                    0.05        0700 AM  44.38N 90.84W

…JUNEAU COUNTY…
NECEDAH 5WNW                                             0.16        0700 AM  44.06N 90.17W
NECEDAH 1W                                                      0.16        0700 AM  44.02N 90.08W
NEW LISBON 4ENE                                           0.12        0700 AM  43.91N 90.07W

…LA CROSSE COUNTY…
LA CROSSE WEATHER                                     0.48        0700 AM  43.82N 91.19W
LA CROSSE                                                            0.44        0700 AM  43.80N 91.37W
LA CROSSE ASOS                                               0.28        0700 AM  43.88N 91.26W
HOLLAND                                                              0.15        0700 AM  43.97N 91.29W

…RICHLAND COUNTY…
RICHLAND CENTER 1NW                              0.72        0700 AM  43.36N 90.42W

…TREMPEALEAU COUNTY…
OSSEO                                                                   0.66        0700 AM  44.58N 91.22W
GALESVILLE 2WSW                                     0.22        0700 AM  44.07N 91.39W
TREMPEALEAU DAM 6                              0.12        0700 AM  44.00N 91.44W
BLAIR 2NW                                                     0.03        0700 AM  44.31N 91.27W

…VERNON COUNTY…
READSTOWN                                                  0.99        0700 AM  43.45N 90.76W
HILLSBORO                                                      0.43        0700 AM  43.65N 90.33W
LA FARGE                                                        0.33        0700 AM  43.57N 90.64W
COON VALLEY 6S                                         0.23        0700 AM  43.61N 91.01W
ONTARIO                                                          0.16        0700 AM  43.72N 90.59W
GENOA                                                               0.15        0700 AM  43.57N 91.23W

Posted under rainfall amounts

We have a warm, humid, and slightly unsettled weekend ahead of us starting with a slight chance for a few afternoon thunderstorms in our area today and high temperatures in the mid 80s.  The rest of the weekend looks similar, with mid 80s and the threat for thunderstorms both tomorrow and Sunday as a storm system from the west begins to slide into the Upper Mississippi Valley.  However, if you’re looking to escape the heat and humidity by heading up north, you’ll enjoy marginal improvements in both of those categories as northern Minnesota will still feature lower 80s and somewhat lighter humidity, but there will be some unsettled weather at times associated with the same upcoming storm system that will impact the entire region.  The best chance for thunderstorms will be tonight through tomorrow and possibly tomorrow night as well with severe storms possible during the afternoon hours tomorrow.  Large hail and strong wind gusts will be possible in northern and western Minnesota tomorrow.  That severe weather threat will slide southward for Sunday, encompassing the bulk of our local viewing area with the same threats from the storms affecting southern Minnesota and northern Iowa Sunday afternoon and evening. 

Here’s the northern Minnesota “cabin forecast”:

The forecast for today up north. Incidentally, there may be some T-storms to add to the forecast for tonight.

The forecast for tomorrow looks a bit more unsettled.

Skies will clear Sunday and things look pleasant.

The SPC has placed a large portion of the region to our northwest in a slight risk for severe weather. The slight risk will be over our local area on Sunday.

Posted under Uncategorized, weather

As in so many other instances throughout the year in our local weather, severe weather and June seem to go hand-in-hand.  This portion of the year, centered on mid June, is the peak of our severe weather season.  Tradition severe weather season in our area typically runs from May through August, but tornadoes most frequently occur in June in southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and southwestern Wisconsin.  While we’ve had a couple of rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms this month, we have yet to see anything as volatile as last year’s massive thunderstorm outbreak that brought tornadoes to the Albert Lea area and Rochester or the Austin tornado event of 2009, so it almost feels like we’re due for at least the threat of that kind of weather.  Hopefully it doesn’t pan out for us in this case, but there is a chance for some tornadoes this afternoon and evening along with the potential for some strong winds and large hail.  In fact, it appears that this will be the best chance for this type of weather in several weeks.  The same storm system that produced a line of strong thunderstorms Monday night is expected to again bring some potent weather to our area by the mid and late afternoon hours today.  The Storm Prediction Center has placed us in the Slight Risk for severe weather today, meaning we’ll all have to keep an eye to the sky and monitor the weather conditions closely on kttc.com and on KTTC TV.

Our entire viewing area has been outlined in the slight risk category for severe weather today and this evening by the Storm Prediction Center.

Posted under severe weather

We’re still closely watching the weekend forecast for severe weather potential and the closer we get, the more likely it appears that we will see our first major outbreak of strong thunderstorm activity this year.  The storm system that will be responsible for setting the stage for these thunderstorms is still forming to our west right now, but by late tonight and through parts of tomorrow, a few isolated showers and thunderstorms may be moving into our weather picture ahead of the main low pressure center.  Severe weather isn’t expected at first this weekend (tonight or tomorrow), but as the warm front begins to push through the local area, a few strong storms may develop Saturday evening or Saturday night, producing large hail and some locally heavy rainfall.  The Storm Prediction Center has placed our area in the Slight Risk for severe weather tomorrow night.  The outlook for Sunday, however, is looking a little more dire right now as the SPC has us in the Moderate Risk for severe weather meaning there is a greater likelihood for widespread severe thunderstorm activity including large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.  The storms are expected to fire up in the afternoon and early evening Sunday as the storm system and its associated cold front make their way through the area.  The one bright spot in this weekend’s forecast is the massive surge of warm air we’re expecting ahead of that storm system.  Tomorrow, we’ll be seeing temperatures in the upper 60s and then Sunday, we may experience our first 70° warmth of the year!  The unseasonably warm air will make it feel like May and because of the spectre of widespread thunderstorms, it may look like May.  Stay tuned to KTTC and KTTC.com for more on this weekend’s forecast.  We’re hoping everyone will take this opportunity to brush up on their severe weather action plans and be prepared for dangerous weather if it should develop.  The point is not to scare people, but to inform them and keep them safe.  Hopefully we’ll all manage to have a safe and enjoyable weekend!

Our viewing area will be in the SPC's Slight Risk area for severe weather Saturday, especially during the evening and overnight period.

We'll be in the Moderate Risk area for severe weather on Sunday according to the Storm Prediction Center's Day 3 Outlook.

Posted under severe weather

We’ve been enjoying quite a bit of spring-like warmth over the past few days, and from the looks of things, this pattern is going to continue right through the weekend.  As it stands now, we’re expecting a chance of rain just about each day through Sunday thanks to an active jet stream pattern that is working to push a series of storm systems through the Upper Midwest while there will be plenty of warmth drawn into the region as well.  In fact, there will be enough warmth, moisture, and instability for a few thunderstorms Thursday night and then again over the weekend which is not at all unusal for this time of the year.  There may be a few heavy downpours with the first storm system Thursday night with up to an inch falling in some of the heavier showers, but severe weather is not a concern with that storm system at this time.  A larger, more dynamic storm system will move in for the weekend, however, possibly setting the stage for some stronger thunderstorm development locally.  We’re expecting occasional sunshine, gusty winds, and a good chance for thunderstorms Saturday ahead of a potent cold front with the best chance for activity coming in the evening and overnight hours.  If there’s enough sunshine Saturday between clouds and showers, there’s a good chance that many of us will reach 70° as that warm air blows into the region ahead of the storm system’s center.  That warm, unstable air may also allow for the development of strong thunderstorms capable of producing large hail and damaging winds, so stay tuned for more on this situation as we get closer to the weekend.   The thunderstorms are still a few days away, but it’s not a bad idea to plan ahead for severe weather or at the very least, something that might affect your Saturday evening plans.  Otherwise, the cold front will push through the area early Sunday morning, keeping the threat for showers and isolated thunderstorms in the forecast through the end of the weekend while the severe weather risk moves to our east for the second half of the weekend.  There is a chance for some heavy rainfall in some of the storms Saturday night, but right now the impact on area flooding looks relatively small. 

The latest Storm Prediction Center Outlook for days 4 through 7 places our entire viewing area in the Slight Risk of severe weather for Saturday and Saturday night.

 In the spirit of getting everyone ready for severe weather season, the state of Iowa conducted a statewide tornado drill this morning as part of its Severe Weather Awareness Week activities while Minnesota and Wisconsin will have their drill next Thursday between 1:00 and 2:00 pm.  Olmsted County will blow its sirens again at 6:55 pm next Thursday evening giving the public a second chance to practice tornado safety procedures at home.

Posted under severe weather

Happy Labor Day!  Well, we’re looking at a mild, but potentially stormy unofficial end to summer today as a storm system from the west brings some thunderstorm chances to the Upper Mississippi Valley, especially late in the afternoon and evening.  The biggest threats from today’s storms will be strong winds in excess of 60 mph and possibly a tornado or two as the winds will be intensifying and eventually shifting with the arrival of that storm system.  The Storm Prediction Center has placed us in the Slight Risk for severe weather in its Day One Outlook effective today and tonight. 

We've been placed in the Slight Risk category for severe weather today by the Storm Prediction Center. The greatest threats will be strong winds and isolated tornadoes later today and this evening.

The best chances for widespread thunderstorms will be after 4:00 today through about 10:00 this evening.  Even outside of those thunderstorms there will be strong, gusty winds as the pressure gradient increases ahead of that storm system.  Southeast winds will gust to 30 mph this afternoon and eventually begin to gust to 40 mph overnight after our evening round of strong thunderstorms.  Wind Advisories have already been posted for much of our area effective tonight through all of tomorrow as gusts will be even stronger tomorrow in the wake of that departing storm system…possibly topping out at 50 mph from the west as cooler, more fall-like air pours into the region.  Highs tomorrow will be in the lower 60s with a chance for some light showers or sprinkles in the morning and midday hours.

Posted under Uncategorized

Here’s the short & sweet version: Today will be pretty quiet.  It’s not until the late evening and overnight things could get rocky. Your Father’s Day will be spent mostly cloudy, thanks to a cluster of t-showers passing through southern Minnesota. We should see some sun peek out by the afternoon. There’s a front to our south that’ll push northward this evening. Storms in the Dakotas will fire today and race east along that boundary and storms should be arriving late this evening and overnight. Biggest threats: damaging winds and heavy rainfall. Lesser threats locally will be large hail and tornadoes. I’m expecting this activity from the Dakotas to turn into a bowing segment most likely by the time it gets to us. Those are the systems that normally cause the damaging winds (similar to what extreme southeast Minnesota saw on Thursday night). What you can do: We’ll have more on the  NewsCenter at 10pm (sorry, no 5pm today!), KTTC.com, and this weatherblog, twitter, our Facebook page, and you can always sign up for severe weather text alerts at KTTC.com. Later today and overnight will be a great time to have the weather radio working and nearby.

Posted under severe weather

The winds aren’t overly impressive, but the CAPE is certainly there, aiding some t-storms that are moving north/northwest across NE Iowa and SW Wisconsin. Our heat and humidity is helping this out. Nothing severe, but look for some heavy downpours, with some gusty winds and probably small hail if you see them. We’re under a slight risk for severe weather today, and we’ll keep you updated if anything gets nutty.

There is a cold front marching through central Minnesota/Iowa that will sweep out the humidity for Wednesday, aiding in the t-storm potential today. Look for less humid, comfy warm afternoons for the rest of the week.

Posted under spring

The SPC still has us in a slight risk for severe weather on Tuesday.

A strong area of low pressure will pass across the upper Midwest, bringing first a warm front, followed by a cold front through our area.

The dynamics are certainly there for severe weather, but a few x-factors are going into the mix as well, such as morning cloud cover, cloudy periods throughout the day (i.e. how much heating we’ll see), and the timing of the cold front.

All said and done, if storms do erupt, all severe weather modes will be possible. It appears a tornadic threat could exist for a few hours in the evening, before transitioning over to a damaging wind event. Stay tuned!

Posted under severe weather

Looking ahead to Tuesday, t-storm chances will return to the area. The SPC has us in the slight risk for severe weather on Tuesday.

We’ll first see a warm front…at least if it can make it far enough north…during the morning hours. That front could help to fire some storms.
A cold front will then pass during the late afternoon/evening hours, which could possibly set off storms as well.

All this talk of t-storms and the possibility of them being severe depends on if we even see the warm front and how cloudy we are through the day on Tuesday. Still 48 hours out, so you know the drill: stay tuned.

Posted under severe weather