While we’ve enjoyed some pleasant, sun filled weather over the past couple of afternoons, we still could use a little more rain for our lawns, fields, and gardens to keep things green and from the looks of our current forecast for the next few days, there will be at least a couple of opportunities to get some rain in the area.  The storm system that is responsible for producing our gusty winds today will eventually spread some showers and thunderstorms across the area tomorrow, tomorrow night, and Thursday.  Right now, it looks like there will be enough moisture available and energy in that storm system to squeeze out half an inch or more of rainfall locally between Wednesday and Thursday which would be a nice start.  There will be a chance for a few isolated or hit-and-miss thunderstorms in the area tomorrow, especially in the afternoon and evening with more widespread showers and thunderstorms tomorrow night into early Thursday.  There may be a couple of round of thunderstorms Thursday as the cold front with that approaching storm system slowly pushes through the area.  There appears to be a chance for some strong or severe storms later tomorrow, mainly to our west with a better chance of large hail and some strong winds in those storms across the heart of our local area Thursday as things will be just a little more unstable.  We’ll have get a break from the shower and thunderstorm activity Friday with sunshine and 70s expected before another storm system moves in for the weekend.  Right now, we’ll have to keep an eye on Saturday and then late Sunday night into Monday morning or midday as the best chance for showers and possibly severe thunderstorms.

The severe weather threat tomorrow appears to be later in the day and primarily to our west, but a better chance for strong storms appears to move in for Thursday. Large hail and strong winds will be possible in those severe storms Thursday.

Posted under Holidays, severe weather

Photo by Cheryl Lehnertz of Chatfield, taken on Christmas morning.

All squirrels rejoice! I just thought you’d like to know the following information. In the past week (since Winter Solstice), we’ve gained 4 minutes of daylight. By January 21st, we’ll be up to 34 minutes. There’s your daily dose of watercooler talk.

Still looks like a freezing drizzle/drizzle on late Wednesday night into Thursday….then rain Friday into Friday night. The latest track takes the storm slightly to the east, which would place much of our area right smack on that rain/snow/mix transition line, especially Friday evening. I’m still not banking on much snow for us for this event, and the best bet to see some light snow would be overnight Friday as the big cold front swings through. But by that time, most of the precip should be to our north.

Hang tight as we continue to try to grasp what this storm wants to do. Bottom line – it looks messy, especially come Friday (New Year’s Eve) night.

Posted under winter, winter weather

Always a possibility.

Yeah, Santa won’t have any difficulty getting here next week. Infact, he may be buried in snow upon landing on roofs, looking at how things are going…

Two things to talk about: two storms, each with a chance to bring us accumulating snow and to impact travel.

1) Monday-Tuesday. Snow looks to start by Monday morning and stay with us into Tuesday morning. If I had to throw a guess right now, I’d say 4-8″ for the area. We could ALSO see some freezing drizzle with this system, with warmer temperatures. This may change…I’ll have a better idea on Sunday and will update then.

2) Thursday-Friday. This one’s harder to pin down. I’ve seen the track wobble all over the place. I’ve also seen totals ranging anywhere from an inch to 8″. Snow looks to being Thursday morning and continue into early Friday morning. This will also change…bottom line: another one to stay tuned to over the next several days.

That’s all I have for now. Enjoy the rest of your storm-free weekend!

Posted under Holidays, winter, winter weather

Slight risk for severe weather Monday

Our entire area (as of tonight) is under a slight risk for severe weather on Monday. Here’s my thinking behind this:

1) The bulk of the day will be dry as we should be capped – a warm front will hang out to our north tomorrow. South winds south of the warm front will try to bring moisture and warmth to the area. Look for highs (if we see enough sun) to hit the mid/upper 70s. More clouds will keep temps in the low 70s and also limit severe weather. How much moisture will return is also in question. Less moisture = not a lot of oomph for severe weather.

2) The low pressure track will come across southern Minnesota late Monday. So, although there may not be a ton of moisture or instability, there will be plenty of spin (or, shear, if you will) in the atmosphere. Storms love shear.

3) It will be windy later Monday and overnight into Tuesday. Tuesday, btw, will be cooler and cloudy. Ah yes, a perfect fall feel: cue the Back To School music!

Stay tuned for any development on Monday. Labor Day WON’T be a washout, and we very well may be able to squeak by dry the entire day. But just incase – and if you’re outside tomorrow – have a means of getting weather info handy.

Enjoy your Labor Day!

Posted under Holidays, severe weather

Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 8 pm...for only a few of our counties

1:45pm update:

Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 8 pm for some of our counties in Wisconsin: La Crosse, Trempealeau, Vernon. Watch extends to the east into Wisconsin…rocky weather expected there this afternoon, if you are headed that way.

Earlier:

There’s still a possibility for some stronger storms this afternoon and evening, and as I’m writing this (1 pm), there’s a nice non-severe line that’s developed rapidly and stretches from Olmsted county south to Chickasaw county. These are mainly run-of-the-mill storms, but could pack some brief gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and small hail. Infact, this could be the extent of the action for the day.

If you want to get all geeky and haven’t yet…you can always check out and track the storms on your own – take it to your street level even! – with our Interactive Radar (plus, it’s free – go on – you have some time before the clock hits 5 PM at work, right?).

Otherwise, enjoy the weekend, the dry weather, and a dose of summer warmth!

Posted under severe weather

Looking east from near Chester

Rainbow from Sunday night’s storms

The storms are settling down and we’re in for a quiet rest of the overnight. Most of the activity was scattered today, as expected, and the severe stuff was limited. There was one reports of wind damage (from rural Lake City) that we got word of, but more than anything, these guys were torrential rain producers (or, gullywashers…because I dig that word so much).

Posted under rainfall amounts

Storms are popping ahead of a cold front moving through.  We’ve had reports of funnels west of Rochester this afternoon, but no warnings, and no tornadoes, and nothing more than some gullywashers and lightning.

The winds in the atmosphere, along with the slightest amount of instability, have made for the possibility of weak rotation, but that’s where all the good stuff stops (there’s flat out nothing to support tornadoes today).

Look for the front and t-storms to clear the area by later this evening, west to east. Then enjoy the sun and stuff for Wednesday.

For the record, Thursday looks like a fairly decent chance for severe weather, and we are under a slight risk for that day.

Posted under KTTC

May 4th Slight Risk

We have a Slight Risk for severe weather today (Tuesday) – a warm front will pass northward, followed by a cold front later today. That will help spark storms, some of which could be strong to severe.

Posted under severe weather

There shouldn’t be any surprise to this forecast for tonight: more fog, more fog, more fog, with nearly the whole area once again under a Dense Fog Advisory (thru noon Tuesday).  Be careful driving. There will be icy spots looming on roadways, bridges, etc.

On our minds: a messy/slippery late Wednesday into Thursday with some freezing rain/sleet possible; a larger, stronger storm for the weekend. That one looks to want to start as a cold rain on Saturday, before turning over to a messy mix/snow by Sunday into Monday. No watches or advisories or anything of that nature in regards to those two systems…so with that being said…stay tuned!

Posted under KTTC

1:35 a.m. update: Severe T-Storm Warning until 2:15 a.m. for SE Olmsted, NE Fillmore, Northern Houston, and Southern Winona counties.

11:45 p.m.: New Severe T-Storm Watch until 6am Monday for the counties in blue.

The previous watch still stands, too (see below).

Stay tuned…have you tried out our Interactive Radar? It’s totally free, totally fun, and totally…ok, go find out for yourself!.

Way earlier update…

Severe T-Storm Watch until 3 AM Monday for several of our western counties, including Albert Lea, Owatonna, Cannon Falls, and Red Wing. No severe weather locally as of right now…one cell has exploded over west central Minnesota in the past twenty minutes and is headed east…a sign of things to come. Stay tuned.

Earlier post:

We’re under a slight risk for severe weather this evening…on the Minnesota side of things. The biggest threats would be damaging winds and large hail, if any severe storms were to pop. I think timeframe of any storms would be post 10pm, closer toward the early to middle part of the overnight hours.

We’ll keep you posted! Tune in at 10pm for the latest.

Posted under severe weather