Mid summer report card
Welcome to mid summer.
July 16th marks the halfway point of meteorological summer (June 1 -August 31) in the northern hemisphere.
So how has the first half of summer 2010 treated Minnesota? Let's crunch the numbers.
Temperature: A+
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So far in 2010 temperatures in Minnesota are running warmer than average, and much warmer than last summer.
Twin Cities: Temps so far are running nearly 2 degrees wamer than average through July 15th. June was about 1 degree above average, and July temperatures are running +4.3 degrees so far!
Last year temperatures were 2 degrees cooler than average. Temperatures this summer are running about 4 degrees warmer than last summer so far.
The temperature has spiked to 90 degrees 5 days so far in 2010 in the Twin Cities. The average to date is about 7. Last year we also had five 90 degree days to this point in the year.
Comments: It's been warm and summery, but not too hot so far this year. The air is warm; the lakes are warm and swimmable.
Rainfall: B+
Most locations in Minnesota have received ample rainfall so far this summer. The exception continues to be the North Shore, where drought conditions linger.
The Twin Cities has recorded 7.89" of rainfall since June 1st. That's 1.7" above average, and a full 4.77" above 2009 to date!
UM climate guru Mark Seeley tells me today there have been 18 days with thunderstorms in the Twin Cities so far in 2010. That's about average. Mark will have more on that on Morning Edition with Cathy Wurzer tomorrow at 6:45am.
The latest tornado tally in Minnesota this year is 36, including the NWS surveys for Wednesday's tornadoes. That's well above average. The long term annual average for Minnesota is about 24 tornadoes. In recent decades, that number has risen to near 40 per year.
Comments: After a quiet start to severe weather season, we've had some big severe weather outbreak days. June 17th was one of the biggest tornado outbreaks in Minnesota history. The deadly outbreak caused 3 fatatities in Minnesota.
Rainfall has been plentiful and well timed in most of Minnesota so far this summer season. The early warm growing season and ample rain has been a boom for crop development this year.
Overall grade summer 2010 to date: A-
Does it get any better than this on a whole for Minnesota?
PH