Florida braces for Category 5 Hurricane Dorian

Minnesota and western Wisconsin could see some strong to severe thunderstorms Monday evening and overnight Monday night.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms could develop in western Minnesota and south-central Minnesota Monday afternoon. This might change, but forecast models have been showing shower and t-storm coverage expanding to include much of Minnesota plus western Wis. as we go through Monday evening and the overnight hours of Monday night. In the Twin Cities metro area, our t-storm chance is expected to hold off until Monday evening or Monday night.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center shows a slight risk of severe weather Monday and Monday night for much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Slight risk means that scattered severe thunderstorms are possible. Here’s a look at the risk area and the timing of the severe risk, from the Twin Cities NWS office:

“Monday night” in NWS terminology includes the Monday evening and overnight hours. Check forecast updates.The severe weather outlook will be updated overnight and on Monday.

As always, updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and you’ll also see updated weather info on the MPR News live weather blog.

Temperature trends

Labor Day highs could range from the lower 80s in far southern Minnesota to the upper 60s in far northern MN:

We haven’t reached 80 degrees or higher at MSP airport since August 20. We could hit 80 Monday afternoon. Twin Cities metro highs are projected to be in the mid 70s Tuesday, then around 70 Wednesday and in the lower 70s Thursday and Friday.

Hurricane Dorian

Hurricane Dorian hit the northwestern Bahamas Sunday with historic 185 mph winds:

Dorian is a “catastrophic” category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale that’s used by the National Hurricane Center:

Some evidence of Dorian’s incredible winds, heavy rain and storm surge in the Bahamas:

Dorian’s forecast track has shifted westward, and hurricane warnings have been issued for portions of Florida’s east coast

The forecast graphic depicts the “cone of uncertainty” of the path of the center of Hurricane Dorian. Note that the “cone” includes the possibility of a westward shift of the track and even a Florida landfall. As of Sunday evening, hurricane-force winds extended out 45 miles from the center of Dorian.

Here are the main messages listed by the National Hurricane Center Sunday morning:

Let’s hope that people in Hurricane Dorian’s path can get to safe ground over the next few days.