Powerful Hurricane Irma battering Caribbean islands; peaceful weather here

The Atlantic Ocean has been an active breeding ground for tropical storms recently. Devastating Hurricane Harvey has been followed by Category 5 Hurricane Irma and Tropical Storm Jose. And now we also have Tropical Storm Katia wobbling in the southern Gulf of Mexico.

Frightening Irma

Anyone in the path of massive, powerful Hurricane Irma should be excused for being frightened. Maximum sustained winds of 185 mph will cause catastrophic damage wherever they strike.

Early this morning the devastating winds and eye of Irma have been passing over St. Martin on its way toward the British Virgin Islands of St. John and St. Thomas.  Puerto Rico, especially its northeastern corner, will be targeted later today.

Some islands in the southern part of the Bahamas are under orders of mandatory evacuation. Residents will be flown to safer locations.

Irma is likely to approach southern Florida on Saturday and reach that state on Sunday.

The exact track it will take remains uncertain at this range, but whether it tracks near the west coast, near the east coast or right up the middle of the peninsula as indicated above, it is clear that Florida will be a dangerous place to be when it arrives. Moving inland and seeking protection from the wind would be wise. Actual evacuation might involve driving to Georgia.

If there is some good news, it is that Irma is forecast to weaken slightly before it reaches Florida. But it is likely to remain a very strong major hurricane at landfall.

Our bland weather

We have nothing very exciting in our Minnesota forecasts. Today will be a quiet day with sunshine in the west and increasing clouds in the east. A few light showers might break out this afternoon from the Arrowhead to near the Twin Cities.

Highs this afternoon should be mainly in the 60s statewide except 50s near Lake Superior. The Twin Cities should reach about 66.

Tomorrow will bring another chance of light showers to northeastern Minnesota. Temperatures will be a bit warmer with highs mostly from the mid 60s to the low 70, but cooler again near the big lake.

Frost!

Patchy frost is possible in northeastern Minnesota Friday morning.

Then warming will continue through the weekend. By Sunday afternoon the Twin Cities should be experiencing high temperatures in the upper 70s again.

Glacier National Park wildfire

Glacier National Park has long been a favorite destination for Minnesota vacationers. A lightning strike northeast of West Glacier on August 10 caused a wildfire that continues to burn.

Last week the historic Sperry Chalet in Glacier's western backcountry burned. Over the weekend a mandatory evacuation order was issued for visitors and residents from Logan Pass on the Going-to-the-Sun Road west through Lake McDonald. While the iconic Lake McDonald Lodge has been spared so far, fires have been burning slowly toward it and have come within one mile recently.

Smoke has been thick, especially on days with light winds. Here is what the view to the south from Logan Pass looked like yesterday: