Warmth, Wind, Friday Fireworks?

Paul's Headlines

* 85 Thursday in the cities, 1 degree shy of an all-time record (86 in 1990). Normal high for this date is 61. Other highs: 84 at St. Cloud, 92 at Redwood Falls.
* Red Flag Warning remains posted for very high brushfire threat, winds gust over 30 mph.
* Cool frontal passage sparks showers/storms Friday, a tiny percentage may be severe (especially south/east of the Twin Cities). Expect some watches/warnings Friday.
* Slight severe threat southern/eastern MN and much of Wisconsin/Iowa.
* 30-35 degrees cooler by Sunday, period of heavy rain possible late Sunday into Monday, over 1" of rain possible.

Paul's Column

Am I ever happy to be home. I've been out in Las Vegas since Sunday, with about 14 of my colleagues at both new companies, WeatherNation and Singular Logic. The NAB Trade Show focused on content this year, for legacy media and new media.....all this new technology, bells and whistles (everything imaginable) in the greatest freakshow the world has ever known. Amazing. Working a trade show doesn't sound like it's very tough - but it's a little like doing theater for 10 straight hours. You're always "on", telling your company story, and by the end of the day, with 95 degree heat outside, desert-dry 6% relative humidity capable of turning contact lenses into eye-watering torture devices!

Anyway, good to be home (a small cheer erupted on the plane when the pilot reported a current temperature of 84 degrees!) In the 4 days I've been away it's greened up (a little). The dock is in, I'm ready.

Now, on to the weather. Cooler air arrives during the day Friday - temperatures holding in the 60s (low 70s southern Minnesota). The best chance of severe storms later in the day will be to our south/east, into Iowa and Wisconsin. Once winds shift around to the north (midday?) the odds of hail and even isolated tornadoes will go way down in a hurry. We're not quite out of the woods in terms of severe weather, but I think Iowa and southern Wisconsin will see the worst of the severe weather Friday. Saturday looks chilly - temperatures stuck in the 40s and 50s (sorry about the lousy timing), and then a wave of low pressure rippling along that front may spark a period of heavier rain late Sunday into Monday, maybe an inch or more of welcome precipitation.

Tune in Friday for an update on the severe storm risk, hopefully we'll see enough rain to cancel the Red Flag Warning and subsequent risk of brushfires....the weekend weather will leave MUCH to be desired. Saturday looks like the lesser of the two atmospheric evils. Sorry - I'm just the messenger here.