Fog, A Taste of Early April (and possible snow late in the weekend)

46 F. high on Wednesday in St. Cloud.
34 F. high on February 16, 2010.
26 F. normal high for February 16.
87. Number of days with at least an inch of snow in St. Cloud since the snow season began on November 13, 2010.

Headlines: 46 F. yesterday in St. Cloud,  52 F. in the Twin Cities, today may be a couple degrees warmer. Rapid snow melt will create dense fog, drizzle, but even with a sloppy sky we should still top 50. Pretty impressive for mid February. We cool down 20 degrees tomorrow on gusty winds (which may be in the 25-40 mph range). Saturday looks dry with good travel weather statewide, but a southern storm stands a good chance of turning on a potentially significant period of heavy, wet snow from Sunday afternoon into midday Monday. The timing and amounts are still tenuous - but there's certainly a potential for a couple inches, with heavier amounts south of St. Cloud. Parts of far southern Minnesota could wind up with over a half foot of snow, maybe a few 10" amounts near Rochester and Mankato if the models are on the right track. We'll see - if you're traveling late in the weekend or Monday you'll want to stay up on the latest forecast. No question next week will be stormier: a second storm arrives next Wednesday - if precipitation streaks in early it may start as a little ice before changing to rain, then ending as wet snow. Bottom line: make the most of today's taste of spring.


Fog Advisory. Significant snow melt has moistened up the lowest 1,000 - 2,000 feet of the atmosphere, increasing the potential for lazy clouds (fog) and drizzle. Details from the National Weather Service: A DENSE FOG ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE AREA LOCATED EAST AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM REDWOOD FALLS...WILLMAR...TO ANOKA...AND EAST INTO WISCONSIN FROM NEW RICHMOND AND NEW AUBURN...FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING...CONTINUING THROUGH 9 AM THURSDAY. THE ADVISORY GOES INTO AFFECT FOR THE REMAINDER OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN AFTER MIDNIGHT. THE THICKER FOG IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO SOUTH CENTRAL AND MUCH OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA...AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN THROUGH ABOUT 9 PM. VISIBILITIES WILL EVENTUALLYFALL TO 1/4 MILE OR LESS IN MANY LOCATIONS CREATING HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS. A COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE REGION DURING THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON...WITH IMPROVING VISIBILITIES BEHIND IT.

A March-Like Slush-Storm? A powerful Pacific storm is forecast to bulk up on moisture from the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend, tracking across Iowa into Wisconsin, a potentially favorable trajectory for very significant snow for parts of Minnesota. It's still too early to time the snow, or calculate how many inches of snow may accumulate. Suffice to say that a "few inches" of heavy, wet, slushy snow may fall from Sunday night into Monday morning. Models are hinting at the heaviest amounts, possibly more than 4-5", across the south metro, with some 8-12" amounts across far southern Minnesota, including Mankato and Rochester.

Monday Slop-Storm? There's still a fair amount of discrepency between the various models (which we don't like to see). Although I doubt we'll wind up with 10" of snow, but something in the 2-5"+ range seems more than reasonable, based on what we're seeing. Bottom line: it's still too early to know with any certainty. Highs will probably be in the low to mid 30s, meaning most roads will be wet/slushy. Not the same thing as a January snowfall with temperatures in the teens. Monday's commute will still be slow, no doubt.


Storm Machine Returns Next Week. The latest GFS model (analyzed by the National Weather Service "Bufkit" tool) shows a significant potential for accumulating snow Sunday night into Monday, followed by a brief lull next Tuesday, before the next system arrives by Wednesday of next week, an icy mix changing to rain, then back to snow by Wednesday night. Timing and amounts for both storms are still very much up in the air.

Going...Going.... We've melted a lot of snow in the last 2-3 days, with temperatures consistently above freezing (48 Sunday, 42 Tuesday). The Twin Cities started the month of February with 14" on the ground, now we're down to about 4" of dirty snow. But there is still an estimated 2"+ water locked up in those nasty-looking drifts lurking in your yard. The million dollar question: will this week's thaw ease the risk of major flooding later in March and early April? The honest answer: it's still too early to know - but it should help.


Persistent Snow Cover. A blurb from the one and only Professor Bob Weisman, meteorology instructor extraordinaire up at St. Cloud State University (still the only school in Minnesota where you can pick up a 4 year meteorology degree), sharing what he hates about a central Minnesota winter: "...even though we've only had 3 days with measurable snowfall this month, one of the aggravatiing things about a northern and central Minnesota winter is our long period of consistent snow cover. We've now had at least an inch of snow on the ground ever day since November 23, which now makes 86 straight days of snow cover. That is now slightly above average for a cold season. According to the statistics I just finished compiling yesterday, St. Cloud normally has 86 straight days with at least an inch of snow on the ground each winter. Iin a typical winter, this starts around the 10th of December and ends about the 10th of March. Unfortunately, our snow season began about three weeks early this year. Unless we continue snow melting with the mild and dry weather, we are still likely to have another 3 weeks staring at this snow, pushing us over 100 straight days with a snow cover this year. However, we are not likely to break the longest streak with a snow cover, which was 146 days in 2000-2001. In that year, the snow cover didn't disappear until April 7." Ouch.

I asked Pete Boulay at the MN State Climatology Office for a snow update here in the metro area:

"The average number of days with an inch of snow on the ground is 100 days for the Twin Cities; including today we're at day 89. The first day with one inch of snow on the ground was November 13. The snow pack did go down to zero by Nov 22nd."

100 days/year with at least 1" or more of snow on the ground? Yes, we are a state brimming with Weather Warriors.

Watershed District Warn Of Spring Creek Flooding. I know we've melted a considerable amount of snow this week, but there's still at least 1-3" of water locked up in that remaining snow pack. A wet fall didn't help the overall flood situation - the extent of any future flooding will depend on how quickly we warm in March, and whether warm fronts are accompanied by heavy, steady rains, which would accelerate snow melt and worsen the flood potential. A story from Laurie Blake at the Star Tribune: "Watershed district officials overseeing Nine Mile Creek and Minnehaha Creek are advising cities and property owners along the two creeks and in low-lying areas around Lake Minnetonka that spring flooding is a strong possibility this year. Flood prediction is a new role for the watershed districts, prompted by December's record snowfall. "Usually the creeks are under everybody's radar. They worry about the rivers, and they worry about other things," said St. Louis Park Fire Chief Luke Stemmer. St. Louis Park, Edina, Minneapolis, Minnetonka and cities around Lake Minnetonka are all being briefed this year by Minnehaha Creek Watershed District on the potential for creek flooding."

Flood Overview. Wikipedia has a great page focused on Minnesota weather factorids, with a good overview of our (wild) climate, season by season. The section on flooding caught my eye: "Minnesota is prone to flooding in its major rivers by spring snowmelt runoff and ice jams. Spring flooding to some degree occurs almost annually on some Minnesota rivers, but major floods have occurred in 1965, 1969, 1997, 2001, and 2009.The flooding in 1965 was the worst flood in Minnesota history on the Mississippi River, while the flooding in 1997 was the worst in history on the Red River. The Red River flood of 1997 was aided heavily by the 11 blizzards that struck Minnesota that winter. Besides heavy winter and spring snowfall, cold winter temperatures and heavy fall and spring rains causing sudden run-off surges are also common causes of spring river flooding in Minnesota."

Perfect "Soup Weather". Our pals at The Onion have some breaking weather news to report: "SILVER SPRING, MD—Meteorologists at the National Weather Service announced Monday that Americans should begin preparing for perfect soup weather, which will hit many parts of the country as early as midweek. By Wednesday morning, much of the U.S. should begin seeing heavy soup weather suitable for unseasonably large portions of soup. Additionally, parts of the Northeast could see overnight temperatures drop to lows ideal for thick bisques or hearty stews. "There are already severe soup weather patterns developing over the entire northern part of the United States," NWS official David Reyes said while standing in front of a digital map of the U.S. emblazoned with soup-bowl icons. "A high pressure system coming down from Canada will bring low temperatures; light, fluffy snow; and bright sunshine perfect for curling up in front of a fire with a robust potato-leek chowder."

(image courtesy of Wikipedia)

Paul's SC Times Outlook for St. Cloud and all of central Minnesota:

TODAY: Dense fog possible. Near-record warmth, cloudy with drizzle possible. Winds: S 10-15. High: 48

THURSDAY NIGHT: High winds, turning much colder. Low: 22 (winds gust to 30-40 mph).

FRIDAY: Gusty winds, noticeably colder with more clouds than sun. Winds: W 20-35. High:  29

SATURDAY: Drier day of the weekend, chilled sunlight. High: 33

SUNDAY: Clouds increase, wet snow developing by afternoon, becoming heavier Sunday night. High: 36

MONDAY: Wet snow, a light accumulation possible, possibly enough to shovel/plow, especially south of St. Cloud. This may be a major snowstorm for the southern quarter of Minnesota (heaviest amounts south of the MN River). High: 32

TUESDAY: Intervals of sun, better travel day statewide. High: 32

WEDNESDAY: Ice potential. Periods of rain - changing to wet snow late. High: 33

Atmospheric Whiplash

A week ago we were waking up to 11 below in the Twin Cities with a wind chill dipping to -30. Today, just 7 days later, low 50s - and a very premature case of spring fever. Hey, what's 80 degrees among friends? We're predicting low 50s; the all-time record high of 55 F. in 1981 is within striking distance. 20-25 degrees above average! And yes, it's early to be babbling about spring fever. But after the (rigorous) winter we're muddling through we can all be forgiven celebrating this late winter intermission.

Make the most of this fine weather honeymoon: cold air returns tomorrow, setting the stage for a couple of storms next week. It should be cold enough for (slushy) snow Sunday PM into Monday, a couple inches possible, maybe enough to shovel and plow closer to the Twin Cities. The GFS model is even hinting at some 5-10" amounts over far southern Minnesota by Monday afternoon. Not sure if that's going to happen, but if you're traveling Sunday afternoon into midday Monday you'll want to stay tuned for the latest details. A brief respite Tuesday gives way to a second slop-storm next Wednesday, maybe a rainy/icy mix ending as wet snow. Bottom line: it's nice to dream, but Old Man Winter isn't even close to being done with us just yet.

Since Nov. 13 we've had 89 days with at least 1" snow on the ground, according to Pete Boulay at the MN Climate Office. An average winter? 100 days. Now there's a stat the Chamber of Commerce won't want to share.

Investments Worth Trillions At Risk From Climate Change: Study. A recent report from Reuters: "Climate change could put trillions of investment dollars at risk over the next 20 years, a global study released on Wednesday said, calling for pension funds and other investors to overhaul how they allocate funds.Risks from more extreme weather, continued delay in climate policy by governments and uncertainty over the shape of a new global climate pact were major concerns, while renewable energy, agriculture and infrastructure could be opportunities."

Climate Change And Faith Collide In Kiribati. An article from NPR: "From the sky, the country of Kiribati looks like strands of yarn floating on the sea: 33 tiny islands, scattered across an area of the Pacific Ocean more than twice the size of Alaska. Nearly half the population, more than 40,000 people, is crowded into just one of those strands –- the capital island, South Tarawa. The average height of the islands is approximately 6.5 feet. Already, land is scarce and drinking water can be in short supply. There's nowhere to retreat. So concerns about climate change are felt very acutely here. Though estimates are rough, scientists predict average sea levels could rise as much as 3 feet by the end of the century due to global warming. At the most recent round of United Nations climate negotiations in Cancun, Mexico, Kiribati President Anote Tong said the rising sea could "ultimately lead to the demise of island countries like Kiribati." According to Tong, it could happen within 50 years."


Study: Ozone Layer's Future Strongly Linked To Changes in Climate. NOAA has an update: "The ozone layer — the thin atmospheric band high-up in the stratosphere that protects living things on Earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, not to be confused with damaging ozone pollution close to the ground — faces potential new challenges even as it continues its recovery from earlier damage, according to a recently released international science assessment. The report, prepared by the Scientific Assessment Panel of the U.N. Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, also presents stronger evidence that links changes in stratospheric ozone and the Earth’s climate. The report finds that over the past decade, global ozone levels, and ozone levels in the Arctic and Antarctic regions are at a turnaround point — no longer decreasing but not yet increasing. The abundances of ozone-depleting substances in the atmosphere are responding as expected to the controls of the Montreal Protocol, with many now declining in both the lower and upper atmosphere."


Extreme Rain and Snow Linked to Global Warming, Study Finds. A recent article from the Christian Science Monitor: "Global warming helped drive a rise in the intensity of extreme rain and snowfall across much of the Northern Hemisphere during the last half of the 20th century, a new study has found. The work builds on previous research that established broad trends in extreme precipitation events over the 20th century. Those studies suggested a link between climate change and heavy precipitation, based on the atmosphere's ability to hold more moisture as it warms. But, according to the research team that conducted the new study, those studies stopped short of presenting evidence for a direct link between human-triggered global warming and extreme precipitation."


Growing Evidence That Human Emissions Fuel Extreme Weather, Flooding That Harms Humans, Environment. In 2000 England and Wales experienced the worst flooding since 1766, damaging or destroying 10,000 buildings, creating damage in excess of $1.3 billion. Here are the results of two new papers in "Nature", as reported by Climate Progress:

… in nine out of ten cases our model results indicate that twentieth-century anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions increased the risk of floods occurring in England and Wales in autumn 2000 by more than 20%, and in two out of three cases by more than 90%.

"Scientists have predicted for decades that human-caused global warming would increased extreme weather events that cause severe harm to humans, property, and the environment.  These two studies are but the latest in a growing body of scientific literature demonstrating that these predictions are coming true now. They should help lay to rest the myth that human-caused global warming will contribute to grievous harm only in some far-off future.  They also strongly support the view that the human-induced increases in greenhouse gases have contributed to the devastating extreme events that hit Australia and other parts of the world in the past several months, helping to drive up food prices (see how extreme weather, climate change drive record food prices)."

Climate Change Drives Instability, U.N. Official Warns. A story from the New York Times: "The United Nations’ top climate change official said on Tuesday that food shortages and rising prices caused by climate disruptions were among the chief contributors to the civil unrest coursing through North Africa and the Middle East. In a speech to Spanish lawmakers and military leaders, Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the United Nations climate office, said that climate change-driven drought, falling crop yields and competition for water were fueling conflict throughout Africa and elsewhere in the developing world. She warned that unless nations took aggressive action to reduce emissions causing global warming such conflicts would spread, toppling governments and driving up military spending around the world. “It is alarming to admit that if the community of nations is unable to fully stabilize climate change, it will threaten where we can live, where and how we grow food and where we can find water,” said Ms. Figueres, a veteran Costa Rican diplomat and environmental advocate. “In other words, it will threaten the basic foundation – the very stability on which humanity has built its existence.”