Nice weekend, rain on Monday
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A nice weekend is on tap.
Temperatures tomorrow will be about 20 degrees warmer than the chilly temps that we endured during the fishing opener last Saturday:
We can thank a high pressure system, which will linger nearby tomorrow and much of Sunday:
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible over western Minnesota on Sunday evening, but most the weekend should be dry.
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On Sunday, some spots over southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, could touch 80 degrees!
Rain on Monday
A low pressure system will move closer on Monday, spreading showers and thunderstorms across Minnesota:
A strong or severe thunderstorm is possible on Monday and Monday night.
Foss Lake wildfire
Firefighting efforts continued today on the wildfire near Foss Lake in the Superior National Forest. The fire originated on Thursday about 10 miles west of Ely, Minnesota:
The U.S. Forest Service posted this wildfire update today:
Incident Overview
United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Superior National Forest
Update: Foss Lake Fire
Date Issued: May 20, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Incident Commander Type III: Timo Rova
Fire Information:
- Phone: 218-208-4544
- Web address: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4740/#
- Email: FossLakeFireInfo@gmail.com
- Community Meeting Tonight: 7:00 p.m. Vermilion Community College Theater
Fire Start Date: May 19, 2016 Size: approximately 1000 acres
Location: Township 63 N, Range 14 W, Section 26. This fire is located 6 miles north of Ely, MN in St. Louis County, one mile west of the southwestern edge of Burntside Lake, north of Foss Lake, south of Crab Lake. The fire is burning north within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).
Description:
Yesterday, the Foss Lake Prescribed Fire escaped containment after an unexpected change in weather conditions. Higher winds and lower relative humidity than expected were experienced shortly after ignition and a spot fire north of the control line escaped containment. The fire grew to the north. Planned contingency aircraft resources responded quickly and checked the growth of the fire. Aircraft and work by ground crews were able to slow the spread of the fire west, protecting the north shore of Burnside Lake. Crews and aircraft were also effective on the east side of the fire. The fire has spread northward to the Crab Lake area in the BWCAW. There was no fire growth to the south. Last night the fire was relatively quiet. Today aircraft and ground crews will conduct direct attack on the north, east and west flanks. The fire began as a prescribed fire to reduce surface and ladder fuels; enhance wildlife habitat; and to support Jack Pine regeneration.
Message: There is no threat to the towns of Ely, Winton, Tower or Soudan. No structures are threatened. Good fuel reduction work completed in the last two years on Burntside increases fire fighters ability to manage the eastern edge.
Resources: 80 personnel and 8 aircraft. A MNICS Type II Team will be arriving today. Vermillion Fire Department’s fire boat is stationed on Burnside. Morse/Fall Lake Fire Department is on structure protection.
Weather: Today’s forecast is for a maximum temperature of 77 degrees F, with a high pressure system to the east and a low pressure system to the west. Isolated light showers are possible through the afternoon. Winds will be from the south with gusts up to 14 mph. Minimum humidity from 20 to 30 percent. Haines Index is 5.
Closures:
- One BWCAW Entry Point: #4 Crab Lake is closed at this time. All other BWCAW Entry Points remain open.
- An area closure including BWCAW lakes west of Burntside Lake, south of Cummings Lake and east of Trout Lake will be issued today.
- A list of lakes included in the closure area and a map will be published today on Inciweb.
Basic Information
Current as of 5/20/2016 3:46:57 PM Incident Type Wildfire Current Situation
Size |
440 Acres |
|---|
Updates on the wildfire can be found here.
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates weekend mornings at 7:35 a.m. on Minnesota Public Radio.
