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Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News
Paul Huttner

Unusually slow severe weather season in Minnesota

4th lowest number of severe storm warnings on record.

Severe thunderstorm warnings
Severe thunderstorm warnings issued by the Twin Cities National Weather Service office
Twin Cities NWS, via Iowa Emergency Management

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What a difference a year makes.

Last year brought the most active severe weather season on record through mid-June. The Twin Cities National Weather Service office issued a record 426 severe thunderstorm warnings through June 20, 2022.

Fast forward to this year. As of June 20, the Twin Cities NWS has issued just 40 severe thunderstorm warnings. That’s about one-tenth as many. It’s also the fourth lowest total going back to 1986.

The same trends apply to tornado warnings. Last year the Twin Cities NWS had issued 82 tornado warnings as of June 20. This year it’s issued just four tornado warnings.

Tornado warnings by Twin Cities NWS office
Tornado warnings issued by the Twin Cities NWS office
Twin Cities NWS, via Iowa Emergency Management

The reasons for fewer storm warnings are pretty obvious. Minnesota has been under a persistent ridge of high pressure for the past several weeks. High pressure aloft means sinking air, fewer clouds, and very few storms.

Upper air pattern in June 2023
Upper-air pattern in June 2023.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Tropical Tidbits

It’s also the primary driver of Minnesota’s rapid descent into a drought again this year.

I expect Thursday’s U.S. Drought Monitor update to show drought expanding and deepening in Minnesota again this week.

Stay tuned.