Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Warm August; pleasant through Friday

We're getting used to this.

The average temperature at Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport was 2.2 degrees above normal for the month of August.  August was our 12th consecutive month with a warmer than normal average monthly temperature!

Will the streak continue?

The Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service shows equal chances of an above or below normal temperature for the month of September:

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Climate Prediction Center

Pleasant weather continues

High pressure will dominate our weather through Saturday, with plenty of sun and highs in the 70s over Minnesota:

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On Sunday, we could see scattered showers and thunderstorms. There is a good chance of occasional showers and thunderstorms Sunday night and Labor Day.

Tropical update

Tropical storm Hermine is approaching the Florida panhandle, and is expected to become a hurricane before it makes landfall:

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National Hurricane Center

Here are details from the National Hurricane Center:

BULLETIN

TROPICAL STORM HERMINE INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER  15A

NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL092016

700 AM CDT THU SEP 01 2016

...HERMINE STRENGTHENS...

SUMMARY OF 700 AM CDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION

----------------------------------------------

LOCATION...27.1N 86.2W

ABOUT 195 MI...310 KM SSW OF APALACHICOLA FLORIDA

ABOUT 235 MI...380 KM WSW OF TAMPA FLORIDA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH...100 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 20 DEGREES AT 12 MPH...19 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...992 MB...29.29 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

--------------------

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...

* Suwannee River to Mexico Beach

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* Anclote River to Suwannee River

* West of Mexico Beach to Destin

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Anclote River to Suwannee River

* West of Mexico Beach to Destin

* Marineland to South Santee River

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...

* North of South Santee River to Surf City

Interests along the United States east coast elsewhere in North

Carolina should monitor the progress of this system.

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 48-HOUR OUTLOOK

------------------------------

At 700 AM CDT (1200 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Hermine was

located near latitude 27.1 North, longitude 86.2 West.  Hermine is

moving toward the north-northeast near 12 mph (19 km/h), and this

motion with a slight increase in forward speed is expected during

the next day or so.  On the forecast track, the center of Hermine

will be near the Florida coast in the warning area tonight or early

Friday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph (100 km/h)

with higher gusts.  Additional strengthening is anticipated, and

Hermine is expected to be a hurricane by the time landfall occurs.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km)

to the east and southeast of the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter

plane was 992 mb (29.29 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

----------------------

WIND:  Hurricane conditions are expected to reach the coast

within the warning area beginning tonight.  Winds are expected to

first reach tropical storm strength by this afternoon, making

outside preparations difficult or dangerous.  Preparations to

protect life and property should be rushed to completion.  Tropical

storm conditions are expected to begin within the warning area along

the Atlantic coast on Friday.  Tropical storm conditions are

possible in the tropical storm watch area by Friday night and

Saturday.

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.  There is a danger

of life-threatening inundation within the next 36 hours along the

Gulf coast of Florida from Aripeka to Indian Pass.  For a depiction

of areas at risk, please see the Prototype National Weather Service

Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic.  Persons located within these

areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property

from rising water.  Promptly follow any instructions, including

evacuation orders, from local officials.

The water could reach the following heights above ground if the

peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...

Destin to Indian Pass...1 to 3 feet

Indian Pass to Chassahowitzka...4 to 7 feet

Chassahowitzka to Aripeka...2 to 4 feet

Aripeka to Bonita Beach...including Tampa Bay...1 to 3 feet

Florida-Georgia line to Cape Fear...1 to 3 feet

The Prototype National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning

Graphic is a depiction of areas that would qualify for inclusion

under a storm surge watch or warning currently under development by

the National Weather Service and planned for operational use in

2017.  This prototype graphic is available at

www.hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?wsurge

RAINFALL:  Hermine is expected to produce storm total rainfall

accumulations of 5 to 10 inches over portions of northwest Florida

and southern Georgia through Friday, with possible isolated maximum

amounts of 20 inches. On Friday and Saturday, Hermine is expected to

produce totals of 4 to 8 inches with local amounts of 10 inches

possible across portions of eastern Georgia, South Carolina, and

eastern North Carolina through Saturday.  These rains may cause

life-threatening flash flooding.

TORNADOES:  A few tornadoes are possible this afternoon into Friday

morning over north Florida and southeast Georgia.  The tornado risk

will continue across the eastern Carolinas from Friday morning into

Friday night.

 

Meanwhile, Hurricane Lester could come close to the big island of Hawaii by late Friday:

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Central Pacific Hurricane Center

Here is the most recent advisory on Hurricane Lester:

HURRICANE LESTER ADVISORY NUMBER  31

NWS CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER HONOLULU HI   EP132016

1100 PM HST WED AUG 31 2016

...WEAKENING HURRICANE LESTER MOVING WESTWARD TOWARD THE HAWAIIAN

ISLANDS...

SUMMARY OF 1100 PM HST...0900 UTC...INFORMATION

-----------------------------------------------

LOCATION...18.2N 142.4W

ABOUT 835 MI...1345 KM E OF HILO HAWAII

ABOUT 1030 MI...1655 KM E OF HONOLULU HAWAII

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...110 MPH...175 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 275 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...967 MB...28.56 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

--------------------

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

Interests in the Hawaiian Islands should monitor the progress of

Lester.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK

------------------------------

At 1100 PM HST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Lester was

located near latitude 18.2 North, longitude 142.4 West. Lester is

moving toward the west near 14 mph (22 km/h) and this motion is

expected to gradually become west northwest, with little change in

forward speed, through late Friday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 110 mph (175 km/h) with higher

gusts.  Some weakening is forecast through late Friday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the

center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles

(165 km).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 967 mb (28.56 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

----------------------

Surf...Swells generated by Lester will start to build over east

facing shores Thursday and Friday. Surf will peak this weekend,

becoming very large and damaging along east facing shores.