Good news for farmers, gardeners (and ducks)

Weather Headlines

* Clouds linger over the metro area, keeping us cooler during the day Saturday, but frost-free Saturday night.
* Patchy frost over northern half of Minnesota Saturday night, where skies have cleared - a reminder that you should wait until Mother's Day, even Memorial Day, until planting annuals.
* Storm Parade goes on: another surge of low pressure tracking across the Plains will spread a cold rain across Minnesota & Wisconsin Sunday - heaviest rains: midday and PM hours.
* .50 to .70" of rain possible Sunday, thunder can't be ruled out - good news for farmers, gardeners, anyone with a lawn in the process of greening up.
* Slight severe T-storm risk extends into far southeastern MN Sunday, near Rochester, Austin.
* Slowly drying out Monday - dry Tuesday, more showers/storms likely next Thursday/Friday.


Paul's Column

I'm still a little frazzled after yesterday's wild display of weather extremes. Factoring wind chill (which I promised I wouldn't refer to again until October - sorry) it felt about 80 degrees warmer in southeastern Minnesota, around Rochester and Winona, than it did in Bemidji, where it was snowing, windy and 32 degrees. Low 90s in southeastern counties - wind chills in the teens over the Red River Valley - amazing, three seasons in one Minnesota afternoon.

That thundery boundary has pushed off to our south - more storms are rumbling across Iowa into the Chicago area at this hour. Winds aloft are blowing from the southwest, another storm pushing out of the Plains will irritate the frontal boundary to south; it'll do a U-Turn and push north as a warm front, spreading moderate rain across Minnesota during the day Sunday. Amounts may be significant, anywhere from .50 to .75" or more. It's coming at a good time for farmers too. Remember that southeastern Minnesota is in the midst of a severe drought, with moderate drought conditions extending into the Twin Cities - it's still too dry over many central MN counties as well, especially east of St. Cloud. Rain will complicate outdoor activities Sunday (I still hope I'm wrong and the rain misses us, but I doubt it). We'll slowly dry out Monday, Tuesday looks sunny and pleasant, with another chance of showers and storms by next Thursday and Friday.

It's WAY early, but if I had to go out on a shaky limb I'd predict a slightly milder, slightly drier bout of weather next weekend. Not perfect, but probably better. According to the good folks at Conservation Minnesota the loons have returned to lakes across northern Minnesota (in spite of some lingering ice!). Birds of all shapes and sizes are descending on Minnesota: white-throated sparrows circling overhead, the steady drumbeat of woodpeckers and Canada geese honking away defiantly. The first rhubarb is being pulled for making sauce - a few lawn mowers have been spotted, although it's still pretty early to contemplate trimming that (rapidly greening) lawn. Daffoils and apricots are blossoming; leopard frogs have been heard across southern Minnesota, while spring peepers are chirping away noisily up north.

Again, it's early to plant annuals, give it a few more weeks to be absolutely sure, but according to Conservation Minnesota there are some hardier varieties of vegetables that can be planted now. Here they are: beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, swiss chard, garlic, kholrabi, lettuce, onions, parsnip, peas, potatoes, radish, spinach and turnips. If you're looking for an excuse to get out into the garden and work the soil - you finally have a good excuse!