Too much of a good (sunny) thing...

Yesterday I recorded my 4:00+ shows for MinnPost.com, smiling, pointing, explaining, with what appeared to be a giant FLY perched on my left cheek. I'm happy to report that was NOT a persistent bug or giant tick. It was a wound, the aftermath of a biopsy performed on my face Monday morning. Men can be especially stubborn when it comes to seeing a doctor, no doubt - for weeks my dear wife has been imploring me to visit my friendly dermatologist - she was worried about a persistent red blotch, a pimple-like imperfection that didn't seem to want to go away. I know, TMI....sorry about that. The only reason I mention this is, well, twofold:

a). to defend my personal hygiene habits, and more importantly...

b). encourage you to take the sun seriously, especially if you're fair-skinned, work outside, or have a history of skin cancer in your family. Get into the habit of putting on (a little) sunscreen EVERY day!



Melanoma is no laughing matter. I'll know the results of my biopsy Monday, when I go in to get my stitches out. At that time I may work up the nerve to ask Dr. Wire why the stitches he put in are BLUE. I'm walking around with what looks like blue fishing line sticking out of my left cheek.


Tuesday got off to a dark, thundery start, mainly south of St. Cloud - over the southern third of Minnesota: swarms of showers and thunderstorms tracked from west to east. While St. Cloud only picked up .10" of rain MSP International Airport saw .53". The new Drought Monitor comes out tomorrow and I expect to see significant improvement statewide. Chances are we won't have any extreme drought, maybe no severe drought either - but I have a hunch moderate drought will hang on over parts of central and east central Minnesota. That said, there is NO QUESTION we are heading in the right direction; the worst of the drought is now behind us, and if this seasonably warm, thundery pattern hangs on another 1-2 months we may just recharge soil moisture and be in pretty good shape for 2010.

Doppler Radar Rainfall Estimates. The approach of a cooler front set off heavy showers and thunderstorms early Tuesday, the heaviest rains staying south of the Minnesota River, where some 1"+ amounts were reported. St. Cloud reported .10" of rain, but .53" fell at MSP International in Richfield, .67" at Eden Prairie, but only .26" fell at St. Paul and .28" at Crystal.

Today looks amazing. Go ahead and run a 3 hour errand for the boss, accidentally-on-purpose get lost driving back to the office. It should be one of the nicest days of summer with bright sun, light winds, low humidity. In a word: spectacular. Thursday should be nearly as nice with highs approaching 80, weather almost perfect for Day 1 of the Great Minnesota Get Together. Can you believe it's State Fair time? How the heck did THAT happen? The approach of a cooler front will set off more patchy mid and high level clouds Friday - by Saturday daytime highs hold in the 60s, with some nighttime lows dipping into the 40s up north. DEFINITELY take a jacket or sweatshirt up north. You'll thank yourself.

WRF/NMM Computer Prediction for Friday evening at 7 pm. Temperatures should be in the 70-74 range from St. Cloud to the Twin Cities, but check out the 50-degree readings over the MN Arrowhead. We'll get a taste of late September this weekend, but cool air will be fleeting - more warmth returns next week, in time for a very warm, sticky (thundery) Labor Day weekend.

After a chilly start early next week temperatures will quickly warm up next week, back into the 80s the latter half of next week - I wouldn't be shocked to see a 90 degree day in about a week or so. The best chance of showers/T-storms? Thursday night into Friday morning, but somewhat drier weather should return for the first weekend of September with highs in the 80s, a few degrees above average.

Weather Headlines

* No rain in the forecast for at least 8 days. Perfect stretch of weather for yardwork, fieldwork, construction. If you need an extended spell of dry weather take advantage of this!

* Warm weather hangs on into Thursday, cooler on Friday as winds shift to the north. Few rain showers brush MN Arrowhead Friday as cooler air arrives.

* Cool weekend at the MN State Fair with highs in the mid 60s (partly cloudy skies both days). Nighttime lows dip into the 40s, even in the metro area! If you like the State Fair cool & comfortable definitely plan on going THIS weekend.

* Warming up next week as winds swing around to the southwest, more 80s likely by the middle of next week.

* Growing thunder threat by Friday of next week.

* Labor Day Weather? Partly sunny, more humidity Saturday, Sunday and Monday, September 4-6, with widely scattered T-storms, highs in the 80s each day. It should feel more like the 4th of July than a classic Labor Day!

Paul's Outlook for the Twin Cities

Today: Sunny, low humidity, very little wind - postcard perfect. Winds: light, under 8 mph. High: 78

Tonight: Mostly clear and cool. Low: 53

Thursday: Sun dimmed by high clouds late in the day. Winds: SW 5-15. High: 81

Friday: More clouds, turning breezy and slightly cooler. High: 77

Saturday: Mix of clouds and sun, cooler than average. High: 68

Sunday: Partly cloudy, still feels like late September. High: 69

Monday: Mostly sunny, a few degrees milder. High: 74

Tuesday: Still dry, sunny and warmer. High: 76

Wednesday: Feels like summer again. Plenty of sun, warming up. High: 81

Thursday: Partly sunny, growing chance of T-storms Thursday night. High: 83