Angry Lake Superior; Twin Cities approaches wettest year on record

Our deep October low-pressure storm is pounding Duluth and surrounding areas Monday. Northeast gales are driving high waves on an angry Lake Superior.

Winds have gusted to 68 mph on the Blatnick Bridge that runs between Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin. Duluth has recorded wind gusts to 56 mph.

Lakeshore flood warnings are in effect for locations like Canal Park. Flooding is reported.

329 PM CDT Mon Oct 21 2019 ...LAKESHORE FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

The National Weather Service in Duluth has issued a Lakeshore Flood Warning, which is in effect until 10 PM CDT this evening.

* LAKE SHORE FLOODING...High water and waves from Lake Superior are expected to flood onto adjacent low lying land areas, including the Lakewalk of Duluth, Park Point and Brighton Beaches, and portions of Canal Park. * TIMING...Through this evening * IMPACTS...Flood waters may affect sidewalks and parking lots near Lake Superior. Roads and portions of roads may be closed this evening due to the flooding. Do not drive into flooded areas.

Twin Cities: Approaching wettest year on record

Climate experts in Minnesota are watching the numbers tick off closely.

The Twin Cities is inching closer to breaking the all-time record for its wettest year ever. Reliable weather records in the Twin Cities go back 148 years to 1871.

MSP Airport had already recorded 37.81” of precipitation (melted snow and rain) in 2019 before Monday’s rain system sloshed in. As of this writing, MSP Airport has logged about another inch Monday, meaning we’re now a little over an inch shy of the all-time annual precip record of 40.15” set in 1911.

Cold front ahead

Gusty northwest winds progress eastward across Minnesota by Tuesday morning. Highs in the 40s rule the week, but 50s return by Saturday.