According to Professor Mark Seeley on his most-excellent weekly weather/climate blog, Minnesota WeatherTalk, MSP has experienced 13 days in March with nighttime lows warmer than 32 F. The average is 6. Temperatures for the month are running more than 9 degrees above normal - the sudden meltdown from 12" to 0" in the first 10 days of March means the sun's energy can go into heating up the air over Minnesota, not melting snow. Snow cover can make a BIG difference in daytime highs and nighttime lows in March, a 15-20 degree differential, depending on whether or not there is snow on the ground.
Something highly unusual will happen today: a light, liquid substance will fall from the sky, a phenomenon known as "rain" - capable of assorted puddles and delayed errands and soggy backyards. Not an all-day gully-washer, but .10 to .20" possible. If the lowest mile of the atmosphere overhead was just 5-10 degrees colder we'd be looking at a cool inch or two of slush. Not this year. Today's damp southwest breeze (8-13 mph) turns around to the north Sunday behind this weak inverted trough - the sun should be out much of the day with afternoon highs topping 50. Dry weather should be the rule from tomorrow into much of Friday, as the atmosphere shifts gears from late March to an almost May-like pattern. Highs should top 60 every day, and if everything goes just-right: 70 is not out of the question by midweek. Not bad for the very end of March, considering we could be knee-deep in snow. Last year our first 70 was April 16 (71 F). I want to go on record predicting that very little will get done next week - expect a surge in "sick days" (right) and lengthy 2-hour outdoor lunches. Test scores will suffer, job productivity will plummet, many co-workers may spend a significant part of their day with faces pressed up against the nearest window. In short, an epidemic of spring fever is imminent.

Models are hinting at a potentially significant/major storm next weekend, the first weekend of April, as a powerful low pressure bulls-eye winds up over the Midwest, pumping prodigious amounts of Gulf moisture northward into Minnesota. The result may be some .50"+ rainfall amounts, although it's still way too early to try and get specific about timing or amounts. But for now: it should be warm enough aloft for a RAIN event. No April shoveling or tire-spinning in sight just yet.






Today: Periods of rain, breezy and damp. Winds: SW 8-13. High: 49
Tonight: Partial clearing, drying out. Low: 35
Sunday: Better day for outdoor activities. Sunshine returns, breezy and drier. High: 52
Monday: Amazingly nice (for a Monday). Plenty of sunshine, milder. High: 62
Tuesday: More like May! Lukewarm sun. High: 68
Wednesday: Sun lingers, office buildings may empty out. High: near 70 (!)
Thursday: Fading sun, still very nice. High: 66
Friday: Clouds increase, chance of showers/T-storms late in the day. High: 65
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