Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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We often look for predictive seasonal trends in weather. Some of you have asked me if our seemingly endless winter tells us anything about this upcoming summer? It turns out the answer to that question historically is, not much.

But multiple days of 90-degree May heat in Minnesota strongly favor more 90 degree days in summer.

So far May is running over 6 degrees warmer than average in the Twin Cities and most of Minnesota.

The Twin Cities hit 92 degrees Thursday. It was our first 90 degree day since September 24th of last year. We've already hit 90 again today, marking our second 90 degree days this May. Looking at the forecast, we'll probably add 3 more 90 degree days this Memorial Day weekend.

The Minnesota DNR Climate Working Group crunched the numbers

 on multiple days of 90 degree heat in May in the Twin Cities. And they found some interesting statistical trends that favor a hot summer this year in the Twin Cities and Minnesota.

Below is a listing of the years that produced two or more 90 degree days in May, and the resulting total of 90 degree days that summer. In those year the Twin Cities average 23.4 days of 90 degree heat.

Here's more from the Minnesota DNR Climate Working Group.

Kenny Blumenfeld at the Minnesota DNR Climate Working Group elaborates the data in an email to me today.

It looks like we'll have at least 5 days of 90 degree heat in the Twin Cities and much of Minnesota this May. Historically speaking, Mays with at least  2 days of 90 degree heat produced, 20 days of 90 degree heat in the following summer in 74% of years.

Fire up the AC or hit the beach folks. The statistical weather odds favor a hot, steamy summer ahead.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

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