This satellite image, taken on Wednesday, April 15th (St. Cloud's high temperature was 67 degrees) shows northern Minnesota's ice covered lakes.

This satellite image, taken on Tuesday, April 28th (St. Cloud's high temperature was 62 degrees) shows ice out on Lake Mille Lacs. Ice out on Mille Lacs occurred on Friday, April 24th. The average ice out on Mille Lacs occurrs April 24th, right on schedule. Earliest ice out was April 2nd, 2000 and the latest ice out on record was May 7th, 1965. Interestingly, St. Cloud's snowiest season occurred that same winter (1964-65) when 87.9 inches of snow fell at the St. Cloud Airport. Don't forget: the 2009 Minnesota Walleye Fishing Opener is a little over a week away (Saturday, May 9th). A quick glance at the forecast May 8th-10th: 50's in northern Minnesota and unsettled. Chances of a few passing showers that weekend with, perhaps, a thundershower on the eve of the opener. Unshy snowflakes (that have been audaciously seen during walleye openers in the past) are not imminent at this point, though, a stiff/cold chop will be commonplace for all who brave Minnesota's northernmost lakes that weekend.


Weather Headlines

* Showers likely today. The latest (NAM/WRF) computer model prints out around 0.25" of through the evening, while GFS predicts nearly 0.50"
*Unsettled skies return for Thursday and Friday as a cool puddle of air sits over Minnesota. A passing shower or spritz is possible through the early weekend.
* Breezy winds will add a whiff of wind chill to an already slightly cooler than average mecury reading.
* Fairly nice weekend shaping up; Sunday appears to be the sunnier, milder day with highs near 60.
* Warming trend next week: 70s possible again middle of next Week.

Todd's Forecast

Thursday: Cool and gray, showers likely. High: 56

Thursday night: Spotty showers, perhaps a thunderstorm. Low: 48

Friday: Partly sunny, slight chance of a late-day shower. Cooler than average. High: 57

Saturday: Mix of clouds and sun, isolated late-day shower or sprinkle - most of the day should be dry. High: 58

Sunday: Sunnier, nicer - no complaints. High: 62

Monday: Increasing clouds, late showers. High: 62

Tuesday: Showers linger, unsettled. High: 60

Wednesday: Sun returns, warming up. High: 65

Thursday: Increasing clouds, chance of thunder. High: 65

Friday: Showers/storms possible. High: 62


Weather Column:

"April showers bring May flowers" is a phrase I am constantly reminded of this week as hopes of another 80 degree reading (in April) at the St. Cloud Airport fades. Sure, another sun-sational, 70 degree, day would be nice, but intervals of dripping clouds are welcomed too. We're heading into the best part of spring; wouldn't it be nice to have bright green lawns, lavish/colorful flowers and healthy/sprouting vegetable gardens? Spring in central Minnesota can be much worse - on this date back in 1950, 3.0" of snow fell at the St. Cloud Airport, making April 1950 the third snowiest April on record since 1899 when 11.1 inches of snow fell.

A "Zonal Flow" or a fast moving upper level wind from west to east will begin to develop late this weekend. This will keep things unsettled over the next 6 to 10 days, but I think we'll be able to eek out a few nice days (60's perhaps a 70 degree, sun-kissed afternoon) between rain/thunder events. St. Cloud is around 0.75" behind normal precipitation for the month of April, but is nearly 2.25" above normal precipitation since January 1st.

Don't be surprised if a few rumbles of thunder are heard later this afternoon/evening as storms develop (in a sunnier slot of dry air through the Dakotas) and meander through central Minnesota. Any thunderstorm that rolls through could produce a heavier shower, bumping up those rainfall amounts in your backyard bucket. Good news: I spy a potential 70+ degree day next week... hang in there. Enjoy the rest of your day.