Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

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It’s official. Drought has returned to much of Minnesota.

 at the top of this post shows more of Minnesota is now in moderate drought. 

I’ve been talking on the weather chats and 

 all week about Minnesota’s rapid descent into flash drought. 

 is the hydrologic term of art that describes our recent weather patterns. The combination of warmer-than-average temperatures, little rainfall, and high evaporation rates dries out soils and surface water quickly. 

Here’s a description of flash drought from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

Soils can lose one-quarter inch of moisture per day this time of year. We’re running a rainfall deficit of 3.5 inches in the Twin Cities and across much of central Minnesota since April 1. 

You can see on the map below that while southwestern Minnesota has recorded above-average rainfall (green areas) in the past month, most of Minnesota recorded between 25 and 75 percent of average rainfall over the past 30 days. 

Friday brings another dry but beautiful day to Minnesota. Highs will run in the 80s in most areas, with the typically cooler temperatures near the North Shore. 

Our next significant rainfall chance arrives Saturday when a cold front will slide south across Minnesota. Scattered thunderstorms are likely along the frontal zone. 

The best chances for rainfall in central Minnesota and the Twin Cities favor the later afternoon hours. Here’s NOAA’s FV3 model between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday:

Overall rainfall coverage looks scattered once again. But some lucky spots could pick up one-half inch of rain or more under heavier downpours Saturday. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model shows the likely spotty coverage of rainfall Saturday. 

Air quality will be in the good to moderate range Friday across Minnesota.

Saturday’s cold front may also drive a bit of smoke to ground level in northern Minnesota. Fires in northwest Canada have reinvigorated and are pumping out more smoke. 

NOAA’s High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model shows some smoke near ground level across northern Minnesota Saturday behind the cool front. 

We’re not out of the woods yet on smoke episodes this summer for Minnesota. 

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

This week’s drought monitor shows drought taking hold in Minnesota. 

Drought grows across Minnesota; next rain chance Saturday

U.S. Department of Agriculture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

30-day precipitation departure from average 

Midwest Regional Climate Center

NOAA via tropical tidbits

European model (ECMWF) precipitation output

Drought grows across Minnesota; next rain chance Saturday

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