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Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News
Paul Huttner

Chilly up north; Perseid meteors peak this weekend

Lows in the 40s up north Friday morning; weekend highs back to the 70s

Forecast low temperatures Friday morning
Forecast low temperatures Friday morning
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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You might need the heat in northern Minnesota overnight into Friday morning.

Temperatures will fall into the 40s across much of northern Minnesota by Friday morning. (See the image above.)

Milder air will work back into Minnesota this weekend. Highs will reach the 70s again on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The Canadian model loop below shows temperature warming gradually between Friday and Sunday afternoons.

Canadian model
Temperature output between Friday and Sunday afternoons
Environment Canada, via Tropical Tidbits

Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend

The annual Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend. Earth passes through the debris stream of the comet Swift-Tuttle. Thousands of tiny sand-sized debris will burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere and leave bright trails for the eye to see.

Perseid meteors
Perseid meteors
Preston Dyches | NASA

The half moon will set in the west around midnight so that the best viewing may be around or after midnight away from city lights. Look northwest, but you could see meteors anywhere in the sky.

Here’s more from EarthSky:

Predicted peak: The peak is predicted** for August 12, 2024, at 14:00 UTC. So the mornings of August 11, 12 and 13 are probably your best bet.
When to watch: The moon will be a 1st quarter and 50% illuminated during 2024’s peak of the Perseid meteor shower. So the best time to watch for Perseids will be starting around midnight until dawn. This shower rises to a peak gradually, then falls off rapidly. And Perseid meteors tend to strengthen in number as late night deepens into the wee hours before dawn. The shower is often best just before dawn.
Radiant: The radiant rises in the middle of the night and is highest at dawn. See chart below.
Nearest moon phase: First quarter moon falls at 15:19 UTC on August 12. And a 1st quarter moon sets around midnight, so you’ll have dark skies after then until dawn.
Duration of shower: July 14 to September 1.
Expected meteors at peak, under ideal conditions: Under a dark sky with no moon, skywatchers frequently report 90 meteors per hour, or more.
Note: The August Perseid meteor shower is rich and steady, from early August through the peak. The meteors are colorful. And they frequently leave persistent trains. All of these factors make the Perseid shower perhaps the most beloved meteor shower for the Northern Hemisphere.

Warmer days return?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s medium-range outlooks favor warmer-than-normal temperatures again in eight to 14 days.

NOAA 8 to 14-day temperature outlook
8 to 14-day temperature outlook
NOAA

Stay tuned.