March 31, 2009
* "Dry slot" pushing into St. Cloud area keeps us snow-free into the late evening hours.
* Another 1-3" of snow possible late tonight through midday Wednesday.
* First real chance of spying the sun: Thursday.
* Weekend storm passes well south of St. Cloud, slight chance of wet snow, maybe 1" or so.
* March goes out like a lion, polar bear, crazed penguin?
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, wet snow redevelops late, maybe another 1/2 to 1" by morning. Low: 27
Wednesday: Light snow morning/midday hours, another 1-2" possible. Mostly flurries by PM hours. Winds: West 15-25, gusty. High: 35
Thursday: Peeks of sun, a hint of spring in the air. High: 39
Friday: Sun fades behind increasing clouds. High: 42
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, chance of light snow by PM. High: 39
Sunday: Light snow tapers, maybe 1" of slushy accumulation. High: 38
Monday: A mix of clouds and sun. High: near 40
Column
"Eye of the Storm"
So, how are you enjoying spring? I thought so. Spring in St. Cloud is always two steps forward, one step back. Yes, we took a big step backward today, with 7" of sloppy, slushy snow piling up on sleepy, slow-moving meteorology students at SCSU by midday. That brings out winter seasonal total up to a healthy 51". The good news? Farmers are a little happier: the risk of a debilitating summer drought dropped off (slightly). Some of that snow will melt and recharge soil moisture, although most of it will run off into streets and streams, thus the flood warnings currently in effect for much of central Minnesota (see the NWS text details following the column). Hopefully we'll warm up gradually, and there won't be any more heavy rain anytime soon. Fingers (and eyes) crossed.
No, the storm isn't over - yet. The heaviest snow is now in our rear-view mirror. A surge of dry air wrapping into the storm center (tracking right over St. Cloud overnight) has cut off the snow and rain, but the back half of the storm will return late tonight and Wednesday morning, with another 1-3" of accumulation possible. I still think it could be a rough, slow drive into work or school tomorrow morning. But with highs in the mid 30s roads should be mainly slushy & wet for the drive home Wednesday PM. The sun (you vaguely remember the sun, right?) returns Thursday with highs near 40, close to average for early April. The next storm slides off to our south over the weekend - computer models show a little light snow surging into southern Minnesota, and we could wind up with a coating to 1", maybe 2" toward Litchfield and Hutchinson, late Saturday into midday Sunday. It does NOT look like a rerun of today's snowy fun, that's for sure. Quiet (dry) weather prevails the first few days of next week with afternoon highs rising above 40.
If you like snow get outside and romp in it soon, because the sun is as high in the sky as it was in mid September, and most of the new slush in your yard will be gone by Friday. Once the snow melts the sun's energy can go into warming the air, instead of melting snow, so we stand a better chance of seeing 40s next week (whoopie!) One computer model is even hinting at (wait for it...) 50 degrees by April 12. Yes, the Reluctant Spring of '09 grinds on. Will this be the last "plowable" snow of the winter season? Next question please. I hope so - and I like snow. It's just that now I'm starting to like spring even more! Hang in there, this too shall pass (but not nearly fast enough for most St. Cloud residents).
Flood Information (NWS)
FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1110 AM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009
...THE FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING RIVERS IN
MINNESOTA...
LONG PRAIRIE RIVER AT LONG PRAIRIE AFFECTING TODD COUNTY
...THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING RIVERS IN
MINNESOTA...
MINNESOTA RIVER AT GRANITE FALLS AFFECTING CHIPPEWA...RENVILLE AND
YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTIES
MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT ST CLOUD SCSU AFFECTING BENTON...SHERBURNE AND
STEARNS COUNTIES
MINNESOTA RIVER AT MONTEVIDEO AFFECTING CHIPPEWA...LAC QUI
PARLE...RENVILLE AND YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTIES
MINNESOTA RIVER AT NEW ULM AFFECTING BLUE EARTH...BROWN AND
NICOLLET COUNTIES
SAUK RIVER AT ST CLOUD AFFECTING STEARNS COUNTY
AN INTENSIVE STORM SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY IMPACTING THE REGION. THE
PRECIPITATION THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING MAINLY FELL AS SNOW IN THE
HEADWATERS OF THE MINNESOTA RIVER BASIN. FOR LOCATIONS FARTHER SOUTH
AND EAST TOWARD NEW ULM...SHAKOPEE AND SAVAGE THE PRECIPITATION FELL
IN THE FORM OF RAIN. LIQUID PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS WERE TYPICALLY
0.15 TO 0.35 INCHES BY 8 AM TUESDAY MORNING. IN THE HEADWATERS OF
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY....THE PRECIPITATION WAS MAINLY IN THE
FORM OF SNOW. HOWEVER...FATHER EAST AND SOUTH TOWARD SAINT CLOUD AND
THE TWIN CITIES AREA...THE PRECIPITATION BEGAN AS RAIN BUT
TRANSITIONED TO SNOW. AMOUNTS WERE LIGHTER...GENERALLY 0.15 INCHES
AND LESS... AS THE PRECIPITATION DID NOT MOVE INTO THE AREA UNTIL
THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.
AS THE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO EJECT TO THE NORTH AN EAST TODAY AND
TONIGHT...THE PRECIPITATION WILL TRANSITION TO ALL SNOW. ADDITIONAL
LIQUID AMOUNTS WILL GENERALLY AVERAGE BETWEEN 0.25 AND 0.50 INCHES
WITH THE HIGHER AMOUNTS IN THE UPPER MINNESOTA AND MISSISSIPPI RIVER
VALLEYS.
HOWEVER EVEN WITH THE RAIN AND SNOW...ADDITIONAL RISES ARE NOT
EXPECTED ON AREA RIVERS. FOR LOCATIONS WHICH MAINLY RECEIVED
SNOW...HIGHS WILL WARM TO AROUND 40 THIS WEEKEND. BUT WITH OVERNIGHT
LOWS FALLING INTO THE 20S...WE WILL SEE A SLOWER MELT. FOR AREAS
THAT RECEIVED THE RAINFALL....WE MAY SEE SOME RESPONSES IN THE
SMALLER RIVERS...BUT NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES ARE EXPECTED ON THE
MAINSTEM RIVERS. THE MAIN IMPACT WILL BE A SLOWER RECESSION ON THE
MISSISSIPPI AND MINNESOTA RIVERS.
FOR THE LONG PRAIRIE RIVER AT LONG PRAIRIE...WHILE RIVER LEVELS ARE
STILL HIGH...SINCE THE PRECIPITATION MAINLY FELL AS SNOW IN UPSTREAM
LOCATIONS...THE RIVER IS EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY FALL THIS WEEK. THUS
THE RIVER FLOOD WARNING AT LONG PRAIRIE WAS CANCELLED.
DO NOT DRIVE CARS THROUGH FLOODED AREAS. TURN AROUND...DON`T DROWN.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION
FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS FLOOD EVENT.
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