Chance of showers, isolated thunderstorm; rainfall recap
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The rainfall total Wednesday through Wednesday night was .56 of an inch at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
As is often the case, rainfall amounts varied quite a bit across Minnesota.
The National Weather Service shows some radar estimated rainfall totals of around 2 inches just southwest of the Twin Cities, in Le Sueur County:
The dark green areas on the map indicate rain totals between 1 inch and 1.5 inches, which includes parts of Anoka County and northwestern Hennepin County.
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It was great to see generous rains in parts of northwestern Minnesota, where some area have been in drought.
Drought update
The latest update from U.S. Drought Monitor indicated moderate drought covering 17.4 percent of Minnesota, mainly in the northwest:
The data cutoff for the map was 7 a.m. CDT Tuesday, so it does not take into account the rain that fell Wednesday and Wednesday night.
The yellow shaded areas are abnormally dry, but not in drought, according to U.S. Drought Monitor.
Nationally, the worst drought conditions are in eastern Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota:
Rain chances
Periods of rain are likely this Thursday and early Thursday evening over northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.
Occasional scattered showers are possible in the remainder of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro area, and west-central Wisconsin.
Some spots in Minnesota and western Wisconsin could also see an afternoon or evening thunderstorm.
Looking ahead, an isolated shower is possible in most parts of Minnesota this weekend, mainly during the afternoon and early evening hours.
Southwestern Minnesota has a better chance of some occasional weekend showers and an isolated thunderstorm, especially late Saturday and on Sunday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model shows the potential weekend rain pattern:
The color chart to the right of the loop refers to the rainfall rate (millimeters per hour), not to the total amount of rain.
Temperature trends
Our Thursday highs will only reach the 60s in northeastern Minnesota, with 70s elsewhere.
Highs on Friday will be mostly in the 70s:
70s will also be common on Saturday:
Most of Minnesota will also see highs in the 70s on Sunday.
Some lower 80s could return to southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro area on Monday.
Cool so far
It's not your imagination; August has been mostly cool.
The official Twin Cities high temperature has reached the 80s only four out of nine days this month:
When you take into account the low and high temperatures, our Twin Cities average daily temps have been cooler than normal on six out of 10 days this August.
Below normal daily temps are shown with negative signs in the "DEP" column on the graphic.
NOAA's GFS model shows highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s in the Twin Cities from Aug. 19 through Aug. 23.
Tropical Storm Franklin
Hurricane Franklin made landfall around midnight CDT in the Mexican state of Veracruz.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Franklin had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph when it came ashore.
Franklin has weakened over land, and is now a tropical storm, with max winds of 40 mph.
Here's the latest on Tropical Storm Franklin, from the National Hurricane Center:
Tropical Storm Franklin Intermediate Advisory Number 15A
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL072017
700 AM CDT Thu Aug 10 2017
...FRANKLIN CONTINUES TO WEAKEN OVER MEXICO...
SUMMARY OF 700 AM CDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...19.8N 98.3W
ABOUT 60 MI...95 KM ENE OF MEXICO CITY MEXICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 260 DEGREES AT 15 MPH...24 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...997 MB...29.44 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
None.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* The coast of Mexico from Cabo Rojo to Roca Partida
For storm information specific to your area, please monitor
products issued by your national meteorological service.
DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
At 700 AM CDT (1200 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Franklin was
located near latitude 19.8 North, longitude 98.3 West. Franklin is
moving a little south of west near 15 mph (24 km/h) and this motion
is expected to continue today. On the forecast track, the center of
Franklin should continue to move over Mexico today.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 40 mph (65 km/h)
with higher gusts. Additional weakening is expected as Franklin
moves over Mexico, and the cyclone is likely to dissipate later
today.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles (185 km)
mainly to the northeast of the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 997 mb (29.44 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
RAINFALL: Franklin is expected to produce total rainfall
accumulations of 4 to 8 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 15
inches possible across the Mexican states of northern Veracruz,
Puebla, Tlaxacala, eastern Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Queretaro and
eastern San Luis Potosi in eastern Mexico. These rains are capable
of producing life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.
WIND: Tropical storm conditions may still be occurring in
portions of the Tropical Storm Warning area in eastern Mexico
during the next few hours. These conditions will subside later
this morning.
Franklin is expected to weaken today as it continues to move to the west over land:
