Much needed rainfall

Now that's what we call a good soaker.

An active warm front is triggering widespread thunderstorms overnight into today. The garden variety grumblers have put down some impressive and beneficial rainfall totals. Here are some rainfall reports as of early Tuesday morning.

Deephaven .35"

Crystal .42"

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St. Paul .46"

MSP Airport .64"

St. Cloud .90"

Eden Prairie 1.34"

Willmar 3.00"

Hutchinson 3.57"

The heaviest band of rainfall set up overnight as the storms developed and lingered in an arc west of the metro. Persistent downpours in a band from near Willmar to Hutchinson to Waconia and Norwood in Carver County in the southwest metro laid down anywhere form 3" to as much as 5" according to NEXRAD storm total rainfall estimates.

[image]

NEXRAD storm total rainfall algorithm shows deep soaking rainfall west of the Twin Cities.

Keep in mind the radar may have read these amounts a bit high due to hail cores present in the thunderstorms overnight. Still, a good multi inch soaking fell in these areas.

[image]

Wider view shows soaking rain in St. Cloud and near the Twin Cities.

The rainfall is extremely well timed and beneficial. Much of Minnesota has been very dry this spring, and the rain will alleviate fire danger, recharge soils and help boost the spring green up.

As the warm front moves north today, expect showers and thunderstorms to favor the northern half of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Showers should gradually end from south to north in the metro today.

-Twin Cities radar loop

-Regional radar

Enjoy the much needed rainfall!

PH