Rain to snow shot gives way to weekend sun
Ah, April in Minnesota.
This is the month we enjoy anything from gentle April showers to severe thunderstorms. From warm sunny days to snow and sleet to cold air funnels.
And that's just one week.
Our efficient rain soaker pulls out of Minnesota Friday with a mixed bag of departing rain and snow showers. Friday starts with a fresh coating of April snow into western Wisconsin. Did I mention the Twin Cities averages 2.7" of snow in April?
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One more reminder that it's never safe to put that car snow brush away until at least May. Or is it June?
I had to smile at the latest Twin Cities NWS "Weather Story" page. It's always a challenge for local forecasters to quickly display 3 seasons of weather on one page. Well played folks.
The good news? This system was a good soaker for most of drought designated southern Minnesota. The metro picked up a good half inch of moisture, while some totals 1" to 2" totals fell across parts of southern Minnesota.
Welcome rains
The meaningful rainfall puts a dent in the drought over southern Minnesota. UM climatologist Mark Seeley gives some perspective in the week's Weather Talk. Here's an exclusive preview of Friday's issue. As always you can hear more from Mark with Cathy Wurzer during Morning Edition on MPR News in the 6 am hour Friday mornings.
Topic: Moisture update
Some southern Minnesota observers have reported measurable rainfall everyday since last Saturday, by far the wettest period of the year so far. Over April 4-9 many reported over half an inch of rainfall, while far northern locations received 1 to 3 inches of snowfall. A few southern climate observers also reported hail in Freeborn, Martin, and Rock Counties.
Thunderstorms brought some record-setting rainfall values to southeastern Minnesota locations late on April 7th and early morning on April 8th, including the following reports for April 8th:
2.15" at Preston
1.79" at Caledonia
1.65" at Austin
1.64" at Spring Grove
1.46" at La Crescent
1.45" at Lanesboro
1.20" at Grand Meadow
Other areas of the state did not receive enough precipitation to change their drought status, still designated as moderate drought in most places.
High pressure ahead
Our beneficial low pressure system pulls east this weekend. High pressure finally clears our perpetually gray April skies. The maps.
As the low pulls out Friday, there may be enough spin aloft to produce a few "cold air funnels." The Twin Cities NWS elaborates on the threat in the forecast discussion. Get your weather geek on.
THE NEXT CONCERN IS DURING THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON ON FRIDAY WHEN A COMPACT/VIGOROUS UPPER LOW MOVES RIGHT DOWN THE I-94 CORRIDOR. THIS FEATURE IS QUITE EVIDENT IN WV IMAGERY OVER SOUTHERN MANITOBA THIS AFTERNOON. SOME RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS WILL ACCOMPANY THIS FEATURE. CLOUDINESS SHOULD DIMINISH DURING THE AFTERNOON IN THE WAKE OF THE LOW WITH THE MIXING HEIGHT REACHING ABOVE 850 MB. THIS RESULTS IN LATE AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE UPPER 40S TO LOWER 50S. SOME FUNNELS OR EVEN LANDSPOUTS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE SHOWERS TOMORROW...ESPECIALLY FROM EASTERN MN THROUGH WESTERN WI DUE TO THE STRONG LAYER STRETCHING POTENTIAL.
Warmer and less dramatic days move in by Saturday.
