Our unbelievable stretch of cold, wet, and wintry weather persists as we head into the third weekend of April.  Once again we’re dealing with a thin coating of snow with snowflakes flying around and raw northwest winds that are keeping wind chill indices in the teens and 20s.  For the 9th time in 19 days so far this month, it appears we’ll be settling for high temperatures in the 30s today.  There’s actually a chance that we’ll set a record today for the coldest high temperature on this date which in Rochester is 36° set in 1939.  As skies clear tonight and winds diminish, we’re expecting to have some radiational cooling that will allow our temperatures to drop to the low 20s which is almost 20 degrees colder than normal for this time of he year.  The record low for Saturday morning in Rochester is 21° set in 1956 and the forecast for tomorrow is 22°, so that record looks to be in striking distance. 

High pressure Saturday will provide us with enough sunshine to warm us into the 40s which is a little closer to what we might consider April weather.  Thus far, it’s been hardly April-like this month as our mean temperature through 18 days is 36.0° which is colder than the coldest mean April temperature of 37.6° which occurred in 1950, so we’re on pace to have the coldest April in Rochester history.  However, temperatures are expected to slowly climb in the coming days with mostly 40s for highs in next week, but possibly some 50s late in the month, so it’ll be interesting to see how high that mean temperature will climb.

Posted under Cold

 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.

 

 

 

Posted under climate

Cold high pressure has settled in from the north, keeping skies generally clear during our Christmas Eve last night and still bright and sunny for today as well.  The sunshine won’t help much with our temperatures, however, as high temperatures will be the coldest of the season so far.  Most locations will top out around 10° which is about 15° colder than normal for this time of the year.  It’s also going to be officially the coldest Christmas Day since 2000 when Rochester set records for the coldest low with a reading of -25° that morning.  By the way, speaking of cold statistics, our stretch of days with non subzero temperatures continues thanks to a couple of thin clouds last night and perhaps just a little too much wind as Rochester’s official airport temperature was stuck at 2° for about four hours and then ended up bottoming out at 1° just before sunrise.  We’re up to 339 days now without dropping below zero, a record length of time for the city.  We’ll be close again tonight, so we’ll have to closely watch the thermometer again.  Otherwise it may be early next week before the next opportunity for subzero temperatures comes around.  Below is a look at some of the local and regional overnight lows from Christmas Eve.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
805 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

…MINIMUM TEMPERATURES AROUND THE AREA THIS MORNING…

…LOCATION…                             …TIME…      …MIN…
BLACK RIVER FALLS AREA AIRPORT             715 AM DEC 25        -9 F
SPARTA/FORT MC COY AIRPORT (MONROE WI)     735 AM DEC 25        -9 F
STOCKTON (WINONA MN) (APRSWXNET)           713 AM DEC 25        -6 F
3 NW BUFFALO (WABASHA MN) (676 FT)(AWS)    739 AM DEC 25        -4 F
SAINT CHARLES (WINONA MN) (AWS)            745 AM DEC 25        -3 F
4 SSE MOUND PRAIRIE (HOUSTON MN)           746 AM DEC 25        -3 F
ZUMBRO FALLS (WABASHA MN) (APRSWXNET)      734 AM DEC 25        -3 F
3 NE LUBLIN (TAYLOR WI) (1316 FT)(RAWS)    714 AM DEC 25        -3 F
SAINT ANSGAR (MITCHELL IA) (APRSWXNET)     752 AM DEC 25        -3 F
1 ENE CRESCO (HOWARD IA) (1279 FT)(IEM)    638 AM DEC 25        -2 F
4 E GRAND MEADOW (MOWER MN) (IEM)          659 AM DEC 25        -2 F
1 E ROCKFORD (FLOYD IA) (1036 FT)(IEM)     654 AM DEC 25        -2 F
1 ENE DEXTER (MOWER MN) (MNDOT)            716 AM DEC 25        -2 F
2 E KASSON (DODGE MN) (1283 FT)(MNDOT)     649 AM DEC 25        -2 F
3 SE ROCHESTER (OLMSTED MN) (IEM)          745 AM DEC 25        -2 F
4 SSW LANESBORO (FILLMORE MN) (IEM)        744 AM DEC 25        -2 F
SAINT ANSGAR (MITCHELL IA) (IEM)           640 AM DEC 25        -2 F
COCHRANE (BUFFALO WI) (1083 FT)(AWS)       635 AM DEC 25        -1 F
2 SE EYOTA (OLMSTED MN) (MNDOT)            701 AM DEC 25        -1 F
1 WSW ROCHESTER (OLMSTED MN)               733 AM DEC 25        -1 F
BOSCOBEL AIRPORT (GRANT WI) (ASOS)         753 AM DEC 25        -1 F
PRESTON FILLMORE COUNTY AIRPORT            710 AM DEC 25         0 F
1 ESE ROCHESTER (OLMSTED MN) (IEM)         640 AM DEC 25         0 F
NECEDAH 1W (JUNEAU WI) (920 FT)(GOES)      748 AM DEC 25         0 F
AUSTIN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (MOWER MN)        735 AM DEC 25         0 F
3 NW DELLWOOD (JUNEAU WI) (APRSWXNET)      730 AM DEC 25         0 F
3 S ROCHESTER (OLMSTED MN) (APRSWXNET)     612 AM DEC 25         0 F
1 WNW SIDNEY (CLARK WI) (APRSWXNET)        541 AM DEC 25         0 F
2 E PERKINSTOWN (TAYLOR WI) (AIRNOW)       600 AM DEC 25         0 F
4 NW ROCHESTER (OLMSTED MN) (APRSWXNET)    720 AM DEC 25         0 F
MAZEPPA (WABASHA MN) (APRSWXNET)           531 AM DEC 25         0 F
2 ESE CANTON (FILLMORE MN) (MNDOT)         609 AM DEC 25         0 F
3 SE GRAND MARSH (ADAMS WI) (MESOWEST)     620 AM DEC 25         0 F
MAYO HELIPAD (OLMSTED MN) (AWOS)           753 AM DEC 25         0 F
1 SSE STEWARTVILLE (OLMSTED MN)            653 AM DEC 25         0 F
3 NE ROCHESTER (OLMSTED MN) (APRSWXNET)    714 AM DEC 25         0 F
DODGE CENTER AIRPORT (DODGE MN) (AWOS)     714 AM DEC 25         0 F
1 E RIDGEWAY (WINONA MN) (MNDOT)           732 AM DEC 25         1 F
ROCHESTER -37TH STREET (OLMSTED MN)        600 AM DEC 25         1 F
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN  AIRPORT (CRAWFORD WI)    755 AM DEC 25         1 F
2 SSW COUNCIL BAY (LA CROSSE WI)           734 AM DEC 25         1 F
1 E CRESCO (HOWARD IA) (1272 FT)(AWS)      637 AM DEC 25         1 F
FRIENDSHIP (ADAMS WI) (958 FT)(AWS)        654 AM DEC 25         1 F
CHARLES CITY (FLOYD IA) (993 FT)(AWOS)     715 AM DEC 25         1 F
RICHLAND CENTER (RICHLAND WI) (AWS)        709 AM DEC 25         1 F
PLAINVIEW (WABASHA MN) (1150 FT)(AWS)      524 AM DEC 25         1 F
4 SSE ARLINGTON (FAYETTE IA) (AWS)         749 AM DEC 25         1 F
1 ENE WABASHA (WABASHA MN) (APRSWXNET)     734 AM DEC 25         1 F
2 SSE KELLOGG (WABASHA MN) (MNDOT)         604 AM DEC 25         1 F
4 WNW BLACK RIVER FALLS (JACKSON WI)       636 AM DEC 25         1 F
WINONA MUNICPAL AIRPORT (WINONA MN)        713 AM DEC 25         1 F
MEDFORD TAYLOR COUNTY AIRPORT              715 AM DEC 25         1 F
ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT            454 AM DEC 25         1 F
DECORAH (WINNESHIEK IA) (982 FT)(AWS)      739 AM DEC 25         2 F
FENNIMORE (GRANT WI) (1175 FT)(AWS)        735 AM DEC 25         2 F
WEST UNION (FAYETTE IA) (1178 FT)(AWS)     654 AM DEC 25         2 F
MUSCODA (GRANT WI) (665 FT)(AWS)           734 AM DEC 25         2 F
MONONA (CLAYTON IA) (1182 FT)(AWS)         745 AM DEC 25         2 F
4 NNW RIDGEVILLE (MONROE WI) (WIDOT)       635 AM DEC 25         2 F
1 E LAKE CITY (WABASHA MN) (APRSWXNET)     753 AM DEC 25         2 F
4 E NORDNESS (WINNESHIEK IA) (IADOT)       653 AM DEC 25         2 F
2 N IONIA (CHICKASAW IA) (IADOT)           255 AM DEC 25         2 F
1 ENE BOSCOBEL (GRANT WI) (RAWS)           703 AM DEC 25         2 F
DE SOTO (CRAWFORD WI) (APRSWXNET)          631 AM DEC 25         2 F
2 WSW GALESVILLE (TREMPEALEAU WI)          742 AM DEC 25         2 F
2 NW HUMBIRD (JACKSON WI) (MESOWEST)       725 AM DEC 25         2 F
DECORAH MUNICIPAL AIPRORT                  735 AM DEC 25         3 F
3 SW RICHFIELD (CHICKASAW IA)              705 AM DEC 25         3 F
3 SW BARRE MILLS (LA CROSSE WI)            459 AM DEC 25         3 F
1 SW MOUNT STERLING (CRAWFORD WI)          634 AM DEC 25         3 F
1 E BLACK RIVER FALLS (JACKSON WI)         715 AM DEC 25         3 F
OELWEIN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (FAYETTE IA)     755 AM DEC 25         3 F
VIROQUA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (VERNON WI)      715 AM DEC 25         3 F
LA CROSSE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT                653 AM DEC 25         3 F
MCGREGOR (CLAYTON IA) (992 FT)(AWS)        744 AM DEC 25         4 F
1 SSE RICHLAND CENTER (RICHLAND WI)        739 AM DEC 25         4 F
MAUSTON (JUNEAU WI) (872 FT)(APRSWXNET)    714 AM DEC 25         4 F
2 N TOMAH (MONROE WI) (990 FT)(WIDOT)      431 AM DEC 25         5 F
1 SW LA CROSSE (LA CROSSE WI)              736 AM DEC 25         5 F
MONONA (CLAYTON IA) (APRSWXNET)            648 AM DEC 25         5 F
3 SE LYNDON STATION (JUNEAU WI)            502 AM DEC 25         5 F
3 NW VALLEY JUNCTION (MONROE WI)           650 AM DEC 25         5 F
1 W FRENCH ISLAND (LA CROSSE WI)           630 AM DEC 25         6 F
3 S LA CROSSE (LA CROSSE WI) (AIRNOW)      600 AM DEC 25         6 F
1 WNW TENNYSON (GRANT WI) (AIRNOW)         600 AM DEC 25         8 F

Posted under Cold, Holidays, Lows

We woke up to the coldest morning of the season today as strong high pressure set the stage for a clear, frosty, winter-like morning across the area.  Under the cloud-free skies and with nearly calm winds, our temperatures took a nose dive overnight into our Tuesday morning as the vast majority of the local area found itself in the teens for the first time since the first week of March.  While it certainly was a little cooler than normal for today’s date, Rochester’s morning low of 17° certainly wasn’t anywhere near the record of -4° set in 1986, but it definitely was a reminder of what late fall can bring in this climate.  If you’re not quite ready for this type of temperatures scheme, there is good news for you, however.  Slightly milder, more seasonal weather is expected for the remainder of the week and likely next week as well, so 20s and 30s will be more common than teens. 

 

Posted under Lows

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

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

Last year at this time, the latest 30 year climate data was released by the National Weather Service’s Climate Center outlining the new set of “norms” for each month in terms of both temperatures and rainfall for our area and the entire United States.  Those statistics are recalculated every decade and it then takes a while to sift through the data and create a temperature curve (or spline) that carries us up the slope of temperatures from January through summer and then back down to December in a more or less smoothed out manner, so the data each day is not necessarily the absolute temperature average, but rather what we consider the “norm” for that time of the year.  For instance, the normal high every day this week is 80° in Rochester.  That’s just a numerical representation of what would be typical for this time of the year, but not a straight average high each day because what are the odds that each day would average 80°?  Anyway, here’s what we can expect in the month of August.  Now remember,  we’re still facing an unusually warm month, so our actual temperatures will most likely be above the numbers shown here.

In the meantime, we average 4.52″ of rain in the month of August and we lose one hour, 16 minutes of daylight from beginning to end.

Posted under Uncategorized

We’re getting a little break from severe weather today as the warm front that triggered some strong thunderstorms last night pushes northward through the Upper Mississippi Valley and away from our area, setting the stage for a windy, hot, and humid day, but one with a “capped” atmosphere, or in other words it’ll be too warm aloft for thunderstorms to develop through the rest of the day locally.  It’s also likely to be the warmest day of the week and possibly the entire year so far as strong south winds will work to mix down some pretty warm air, combining with tons of sun to warm temperatures at the surface well into the 90s.  We’ll likely see low to mid 90s around the local area this afternoon with heat indices close to 100 by mid to late afternoon.  Those south winds will occasionally gust beyond 30mph, possibly making the heat more bearable, but probably not much more.

Speaking of the intense thunderstorms from last night, some of those slid through the north portion of our viewing area between 4:00 and 6:00 AM today, producing some strong wind gusts and hail, but thankfully because they were moving eastward at 60mph, there wasn’t a lot of heavy rainfall produced.  Here’s a look at some of the damage reports from the region:

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
518 AM CDT TUE JUN 19 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0211 AM     TSTM WND GST     HUTCHINSON              44.89N 94.37W 
06/19/2012  M53.00 MPH       MCLEOD             MN   AWOS            

            MEASURED AT HUTCHINSON AIRPORT

0240 AM     HAIL             REDWOOD FALLS           44.54N 95.11W 
06/19/2012  M0.75 INCH       REDWOOD            MN   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            DIME SIZED HAIL

0243 AM     TSTM WND GST     REDWOOD FALLS           44.54N 95.11W 
06/19/2012  M45.00 MPH       REDWOOD            MN   ASOS            

            MEASURED AT REDWOOD FALLS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

0255 AM     HAIL             10 SE REDWOOD FALLS     44.44N 94.97W 
06/19/2012  M0.75 INCH       REDWOOD            MN   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            NICKEL SIZED HAIL NEAR GILFILLAN

0255 AM     HAIL             MORGAN                  44.42N 94.92W 
06/19/2012  M0.75 INCH       REDWOOD            MN   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            DIME SIZED HAIL

0300 AM     HAIL             PLYMOUTH                45.02N 93.46W 
06/19/2012  M0.75 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   NWS EMPLOYEE    

            DIME SIZED HAIL

0301 AM     TSTM WND GST     CRYSTAL                 45.04N 93.36W 
06/19/2012  M46.00 MPH       HENNEPIN           MN   ASOS            

            MEASURED AT MINNEAPOLIS CRYSTAL AIRPORT

0302 AM     TSTM WND GST     EDEN PRAIRIE            44.85N 93.46W 
06/19/2012  M53.00 MPH       HENNEPIN           MN   ASOS            

            MEASURED AT FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT.

0303 AM     HAIL             FAIRFAX                 44.53N 94.72W 
06/19/2012  M0.75 INCH       RENVILLE           MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            DIME SIZED HAIL

0313 AM     TSTM WND GST     NEW ULM                 44.31N 94.46W 
06/19/2012  M49.00 MPH       BROWN              MN   AWOS            

            REPORTED AT NEW ULM MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

0314 AM     TSTM WND GST     MINNEAPOLIS             44.96N 93.27W 
06/19/2012  M44.00 MPH       HENNEPIN           MN   ASOS            

            MEASURED AT MINNEAPOLIS ST PAUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

0321 AM     HAIL             WINTHROP                44.54N 94.36W 
06/19/2012  M0.88 INCH       SIBLEY             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            REPORTED BY POLICE DEPARTMENT

0330 AM     HAIL             GAYLORD                 44.55N 94.22W 
06/19/2012  M1.00 INCH       SIBLEY             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            ENOUGH HAIL TO MAKE THE GROUND WHITE

0330 AM     TSTM WND GST     2 NNW NEW GERMANY       44.91N 93.99W 
06/19/2012  M56.00 MPH       CARVER             MN   MESONET         

            MEASURED BY MNDOT SENSOR ON BWY 7 AT MILE POST 161. 

0335 AM     TSTM WND DMG     LESTER PRAIRIE          44.88N 94.04W 
06/19/2012                   MCLEOD             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            LARGE TREE ON HOUSE. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. 

0345 AM     HAIL             LE CENTER               44.39N 93.73W 
06/19/2012  E0.75 INCH       LE SUEUR           MN   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            PENNY SIZED HAIL AND WINDS APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH.

0352 AM     TSTM WND GST     4 ENE HENDERSON         44.55N 93.83W 
06/19/2012  M66.00 MPH       SCOTT              MN   MESONET         

            MNDOT ROAD SENSOR

0355 AM     TSTM WND GST     BELLE PLAINE            44.62N 93.76W 
06/19/2012  M83.00 MPH       SCOTT              MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

0355 AM     HAIL             BELLE PLAINE            44.62N 93.76W 
06/19/2012  M1.00 INCH       SCOTT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0359 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 N NEW PRAGUE          44.56N 93.57W 
06/19/2012  M80.00 MPH       SCOTT              MN   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            MEASURED BY SPOTTER AT CO RD 2 AND 21. REPORTED BY 
            EMERGENCY MANAGER. 

0400 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 E SAVAGE              44.76N 93.34W 
06/19/2012  M63.00 MPH       SCOTT              MN   MESONET         

            APRSWXNET SENSOR. TIME ESTIMATED.

0403 AM     TSTM WND GST     PRIOR LAKE              44.73N 93.43W 
06/19/2012  M60.00 MPH       SCOTT              MN   NWS EMPLOYEE    

0404 AM     TSTM WND GST     EDEN PRAIRIE            44.85N 93.46W 
06/19/2012  M54.00 MPH       HENNEPIN           MN   ASOS            

            MEASURED AT FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT

0410 AM     HAIL             LAKEVILLE               44.68N 93.24W 
06/19/2012  M0.75 INCH       DAKOTA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0410 AM     TSTM WND DMG     LAKEVILLE               44.68N 93.24W 
06/19/2012                   DAKOTA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            10 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWNED

0411 AM     TSTM WND GST     LAKEVILLE               44.68N 93.24W 
06/19/2012  M54.00 MPH       DAKOTA             MN   AWOS            

            REPORTED AT LAKEVILLE AIRPORT

0414 AM     TSTM WND GST     FARIBAULT               44.30N 93.27W 
06/19/2012  M55.00 MPH       RICE               MN   AWOS            

            MEASURED AT FARIBAULT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

0415 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SSW ROSEMOUNT         44.72N 93.09W 
06/19/2012                   DAKOTA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            30 FT TREE DOWN. WOOD FENCE BLOWN OVER. NEAR INTERSECTION
            OF SHANNON PARKWAY AND HWY 46. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

0419 AM     TSTM WND GST     MINNEAPOLIS             44.96N 93.27W 
06/19/2012  M54.00 MPH       HENNEPIN           MN   ASOS            

            MEASURED AT MINNEAPOLIS ST PAUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

0423 AM     TSTM WND DMG     EAGAN                   44.82N 93.16W 
06/19/2012                   DAKOTA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            30 FT TALL PINE TREE UPROOTED. BRANCHES BROKEN OFF OTHER 
            TREES. 

0425 AM     HAIL             DUNDAS                  44.43N 93.20W 
06/19/2012  M1.00 INCH       RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0429 AM     TSTM WND GST     ST PAUL                 44.95N 93.10W 
06/19/2012  M64.00 MPH       RAMSEY             MN   ASOS            

            REPORTED AT ST PAUL DOWNTOWN AIRPORT

0430 AM     TSTM WND DMG     HASTINGS                44.73N 92.85W 
06/19/2012                   DAKOTA             MN   PUBLIC          

            18 INCH DIAMETER TREE UPROOTED.

0433 AM     TSTM WND GST     STANTON                 44.47N 93.02W 
06/19/2012  M63.00 MPH       GOODHUE            MN   AWOS            

            REPORTED AT STANTON AIRFIELD

0438 AM     HAIL             PRESCOTT                44.75N 92.79W 
06/19/2012  M1.25 INCH       PIERCE             WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

We’re   The next round of thunderstorm activity is expected to develop tonight, especially late in the evening through the overnight period when a few storms may become severe and heavy rainfall will become a concern because of the slow- moving nature of the approaching cold front.  That front will move through the local area early tomorrow and then stall, continuing to spark thunderstorm chances through the day, keeping the day gray and a bit cooler, but also quite wet as rainfall totals may exceed an inch in a couple of spots.  Because of that, a Flood Watch has been posted for Goodhue and Rice Counties locally and for a large portion of central Minnesota where recent heavy rains have left river levels very high and flooding is a bigger concern right now.

Incidentally, summer officially begins Wednesday at 6:09 PM local time.  Happy last full day of spring!

Posted under severe weather

With very few exceptions so far, our month of May has certainly been rather warm and mostly pleasant.  Sure we had that first week in the month where it was a little stormy, but we collected some much needed rainfall and since the 6th of the month it’s been essentially wall-to-wall sunshine with what you might want to call “room temperature weather” as highs have been in the 60s and 70s for the most part.  Even when we reached the 80s, the humidity wasn’t a concern at all, so it felt amazingly comfortable.  Statistically, we’re running a little above normal for temperatures and rainfall this month and it looks like the warm trend will carry us right into the weekend and beyond.  As far as rainfall goes, we have a slight surplus and that should carry us into the weekend when more widespread rain chances are expected locally and then later next week, it appears our pattern may be getting active again for a while, so that department seems okay as well.  Our highs will hover in the 70s today and tomorrow before some warmer air blows in for Friday and Saturday ahead of an approaching storm system from the west.  There will be just a little taste of summer in the air for those two days before we dip back into the 70s for the longer term.

Posted under climate

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.

Posted under climate