Think tank

The Chanhassen National Weather Service Office hosted the local media meteorologists yesterday for their semi-annual get-to-gether. We were given an overview of the Red River flood and the explaination of the lower than forecast second crest. Very little rain fell up stream from Fargo in April. In additon the soil released the frost allowing pooled water to penetrate rather than funoff.

Meteorologists explored the meso-scale weather conditions that spawned the Hugo tornado last May and examined the tornado damage that resulted in determining the EF scale.

Remember that as of April 1st the new hail criteria for severe thunderstorm warnings is one inch diameter. We will provide information on storm severity, but a warning for damaging hail and winds will not be issued until one inch hail, and/or winds of 58 mph or greater are likely or have been reported.

Keep your eye to the sky for garden variety thunderstorms that can produce dangerous cloud to ground ligthning, small hail and wind gusts to 45 mph.

A cool front shifts winds from south to north during the next twenty-four hours in Minnesota and meets up with some moisture on Saturday. Best chance for wetness is in southern Minnesota later Saturday and Sunday morning. You will notice the chill on Sunday and Monday.

Warmer days ahead next Wednesday and Thursday.

CE