Blizzard warnings in Northwest Minnesota, winter weather advisories across the state

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The rainfall map for the 24 hours ending at 7 a.m. Saturday shows some impressive totals in parts of western Minnesota:

Yellow is 1.5 inches or more of rain and red is 3 inches or more. 

Rainfall amounts in most of eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin were one-half inch or less.  The official Friday night rain total at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was just one-tenth of an inch, which leaves our official Twin Cities rainfall tally .33 of an inch below normal for August and 6.04 inches below normal since June 1.

Roughly the northern third of Minnesota plus far northwestern Wisconsin could see occasional spotty showers this Saturday.  Much of Sunday will be dry. 

Far western Minnesota could see some scattered showers/t-storms by mid to late afternoon on Sunday, then that rain chance spreads into eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin Sunday evening and Sunday night.

NOAA’s High-Resolution Rapid-Refresh model shows the potential rain pattern from noon Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday:

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the Minnesota Public Radio 

, and you can see updated weather info on the MPR News 

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency continues an air quality alert this weekend in portions of northeastern Minnesota:

 in Superior National Forest. Here are details of the air quality alert, from the MPCA:

MNZ012-020-021-232000- Northern Cook/Northern Lake-Southern Cook/North Shore-Southern Lake/North Shore- Including the tribal nation of Grand Portage Including the city of Two Harbors 210 PM CDT Fri Aug 20 2021 ...AIR QUALITY ALERT NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH 3 PM CDT MONDAY... * WHAT...The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for fine particle pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the Orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category. * WHERE...Lake and Cook counties in northeast Minnesota. * WHEN...Through 3 PM CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, may experience health effects. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The Greenwood fire continues to burn in the Superior National Forest in northeast Minnesota. The fire is located near Greenwood Lake, or approximately 15 miles southwest of Isabella. On Thursday morning, the size of the fire was estimated to be 4,734 acres with no containment. Southerly winds are expected to continue over the region until Saturday morning and smoke will continue to impact areas near and immediately downwind of the fire to the north. A cold front will pass through the area Saturday morning and winds will become westerly. Smoke will impact areas near and immediately downwind of the fire to the east on Saturday. Winds will switch from the north on Saturday evening, then become southerly on Sunday afternoon. Smoke from the Canadian Quetico fires will impact Cook County from Saturday evening through Sunday as the wind direction changes. Smoke from the Greenwood fire will impact downwind areas to the north on Sunday. On Monday, smoke impacts will be limited to downwind of the Greenwood fire to the north. Fine particle levels are expected to reach the Orange AQI category, a level that is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, for the affected downwind area. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIOOurNS... Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, should limit prolonged or heavy exertion. For information on current air quality conditions in your area and to sign up for daily air quality forecasts and alert notifications by email, text message, phone, or the Minnesota Air mobile app, visit https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/current-air-quality. You can find additional information about health and air quality at https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/why-you-should-care-air-quality-and- health.

A cold front ushered in cooler and drier air overnight. Highs in northern Minnesota will be in the 60s Saturday afternoon, with some 70s in the south.

Highs in the 70s are expected in most locations on Sunday:

A few spots in the metro area and far southern Minnesota could touch 80.

Sunday dew points will be in the comfortable 50s:

Back to high temperatures, Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to reach the upper 80s Monday and Tuesday, then lower 80s Wednesday and upper 70s Thursday and Friday.

Hurricane Henri was located 180 miles east-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina this morning. Henri will be tracking toward the Northeastern U.S. today and overnight:

BULLETIN Hurricane Henri Advisory Number 23 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL082021 1100 AM EDT Sat Aug 21 2021 ...HENRI IS NOW A HURRICANE... ...A DANGEROUS STORM SURGE, HURRICANE CONDITIONS, AND FLOODING RAINFALL EXPECTED IN PORTIONS OF THE NORTHEAST UNITED STATES BEGINNING LATE TONIGHT OR EARLY SUNDAY... SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...34.4N 72.5W ABOUT 180 MI...290 KM ESE OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA ABOUT 465 MI...745 KM S OF MONTAUK POINT NEW YORK MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 20 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...991 MB...29.27 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: The Hurricane Warning for the southern coast of New England has been extended eastward to west of Westport, Massachusetts, including Block Island. The Tropical Storm Warning for the coast of Massachusetts has been extended eastward to Chatham, including Nantucket. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for... * South shore of Long Island from Mastic Beach to Montauk Point New York * North shore of Long Island from Montauk Point to Flushing New York * Flushing New York to Chatham Massachusetts * Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Block Island A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for... * East Rockaway Inlet to Mastic New York * North of Chatham Massachusetts to Sagamore Beach Massachusetts * Cape Cod Bay A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * South shore of Long Island from Fire Island Inlet to Montauk Point * North shore of Long Island from Port Jefferson Harbor to Montauk Point * New Haven Connecticut to west of Westport Massachusetts * Block Island A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Port Jefferson Harbor to west of New Haven Connecticut * South shore of Long Island from west of Fire Island Inlet to East Rockaway Inlet * Westport Massachusetts to Chatham Massachusetts, including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket * Coastal New York and New Jersey west of East Rockaway Inlet to Manasquan Inlet, including New York City A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm- force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours. A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life- threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. Interests elsewhere in the northeastern U.S. should monitor the progress of Henri. For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK ---------------------- At 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Henri was located near latitude 34.4 North, longitude 72.5 West. Henri is moving toward the north-northeast near 14 mph (22 km/h). A faster northward to north-northeastward motion is expected today, followed by a decrease in forward speed and a turn toward the north-northwest on Sunday. On the forecast track, Henri is expected to make landfall on Long Island or in southern New England on Sunday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast through tonight. Although some weakening is expected prior to landfall on Sunday, Henri is forecast to be at or near hurricane strength when it reaches the coasts of Long Island and southern New England. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles (205 km). The minimum central pressure based on data from the NOAA and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters is 991 mb (29.27 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- Key messages for Henri can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT3, WMO header WTNT43 KNHC and on the web at 

www.hurricanes.gov/graphics_at3.shtml?key_messages

. STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide... Flushing, NY to Chatham, MA including Narragansett Bay, Buzzards Bay, Vineyard Sound, and Nantucket Sound...3-5 ft North shore of Long Island from Flushing to Montauk Point, NY including Long Island Sound...3-5 ft South shore of Long Island from Mastic Beach to Montauk Point, NY...3-5 ft Chatham, MA to Sagamore Beach, MA including Cape Cod Bay...2-4 ft South shore of Long Island from East Rockaway Inlet to Mastic Beach, NY...2-4 ft Cape May, NJ to East Rockaway Inlet, NY...1-3 ft Sagamore Beach, MA to Merrimack River including Massachusetts Bay...1-3 ft The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area late tonight or on Sunday, with tropical storm conditions expected by tonight. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the tropical storm warning area late tonight and Sunday. RAINFALL: Henri is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches over portions of Long Island, New England, southeast New York, and northern New Jersey Sunday into Monday, with isolated maximum totals near 10 inches. Heavy rainfall from Henri may result in considerable flash, urban, and small stream flooding, along with the potential for widespread minor and isolated moderate river flooding. TORNADOES: A tornado or two may occur Sunday over southern New England. SURF: Swells generated by Henri should continue to affect Bermuda during the next day or so. Swells are expected to increase across much of the east coast of the U.S. and Atlantic Canada today and Sunday. These swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Ron Trenda

Author

It’ll feel like September today. Temps rebound slightly on Sunday, then summery weather returns to start the week. We have details on that plus an update on the potential for hurricane-force winds in the Northeastern U.S. on Sunday.

Cool today; thunderstorm chance late Sunday; Henri heads toward Northeastern U.S.

Go Deeper.

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