Mild temps; Presidential election weather
Our average high temperature for today is 49 degrees in the Twin Cities.
We were already at 46 degrees at 8 a.m., and metro area temps should top 60 degrees this afternoon.
Highs will be warmer than normal over most of Minnesota:
The coolest highs today will be over northeastern Minnesota, where upper 40s are expected.
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Nearby high pressure will give us a rain-free Friday and Saturday:
Highs in the 60s will be widespread on Friday:
Some spots in southwestern Minnesota could touch 70 tomorrow.
Saturday will be warm:
We could flirt with 70 degrees in the Twin Cities on Saturday.
Saturday's highs would be more typical of late September than early November!
Presidential election day history
Our Presidential elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
The earliest possible date for U.S. Presidential elections is November 2, and the latest possible date is November 8.
You'd think that our risk of cold weather or snow would be enhanced this year, with our late election date.
We should be fine.
NOAA's Global Forecast System model shows a high pressure system over Minnesota at noon on November 8th:
If the GFS model is correct, Minnesota will have dry weather next Tuesday, and mild temps.
On election day 2012, we saw a high of 44 degrees in the Twin Cities, and .31 of an inch of rain.
In 2008, you might not have even needed a coat as you headed out to vote. Our Twin Cities high temperature was 71 degrees on Tuesday November 4, 2008! That is the warmest temperature that we've ever seen in the Twin Cities on the day of a Presidential election.
The Minnesota State Climatology Office's tally of Presidential election day weather shows how variable our weather can be in early November.
An excerpt:
The coldest Presidential Election Day high temperature in the Twin Cities was 1936 with a high of 28 degrees and a bit of light snow. The weather on that election day statewide was on the heels of a winter storm that struck western, central and northern parts of the state. St. Cloud had 7.5 inches of snow on November 2, with light snow continuing on election day. It didn't seem to effect voter turnout with 70% of the eligible voters heading to the polls.
We don't expect any snow next Tuesday, and Minnesota temperatures will be warmer than normal.
We could see a high temperature near 60 degrees in the Twin Cities.
I'd call that great voting weather!