Hot air balloonists to take flight over Duluth
Eleven hot air balloonists hope to take to the skies over Duluth this weekend in the city's first-ever balloon festival. Organizers say it's been 110 years since a hot air balloon took off from Duluth.
Balloonist Ed Chapman from Jordan, Minn., says Lake Superior creates unpredictable weather, and forests surrounding the city limit landing spots. He says before deciding to fly he first analyzed 30 years of weather records.
"Repeatedly, year after year, you could see where there was a window from mid-September to late September where conditions almost always were favorable, at least some point in time, to get a flight in," he said. ""We have a lot of respect for the lake, so we'll make sure conditions are right."
The festival runs through Sunday.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.