Hot and sticky Tuesday; more storms in metro this evening
Another stormy day got off and running early this morning as a north-south bow echo, a line of storms that bows out as it moves, raced eastward at 60 m.p.h. from western Minnesota through the southern half of the metro area. The worst of the wind damage, caused by winds estimated at mainly 50 to 70 m.p.h., was across Scott and Dakota Counties including the Belle Plaine, Prior Lake, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Farmington, Eagan, South St. Paul and Hastings areas.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport recorded a maximum wind gust of 54 m.p.h while St. Paul Downtown had a gust to 64 m.p.h.
A much smaller but still strong storm then developed near Minneapolis and raced across St. Paul into Washington County where additional wind damage was reported including in Woodbury.
As usual, the National Weather Service has been collecting storm reports.
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These storms formed just north of a lazy warm front that will lift slowly northward across Minnesota today.
Today's weather
Rain will continue today mainly from west central to northeastern Minnesota and across northern Wisconsin. Most of southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities area should be rain-free for most of the day.
Today will be hot and sticky across southern Minnesota with highs in the 90s and dew points into the upper 60s and around 70. An increasing wind will provide some relief.
Central Minnesota will be more comfy with highs in the 80s while the north will enjoy 60s and 70s.
More storms are likely to develop this afternoon in western Minnesota ahead of an advancing cold front. Significant, possibly severe storms should reach eastern Minnesota including the metro area this evening. In fact, forecast models indicate that the nasty action might even hold off until after sunset.
Because of the forecast of more rain on areas that have been rained upon repeatedly, the National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for much of central to east central and northeastern Minnesota through tomorrow. Another 3 to 5 inches of rain is possible locally.
Some rains are likely to leak over into tomorrow before giving way to very pleasant weather for Thursday and Friday.
Looking back at the bouts of wind, hail and lightning that have struck many of our neighborhoods recently, I wanted to include a photo of a tree branch that fell across my driveway last week. The damage was minor compared to most, of course, but the city had to cut down the tree the next day and I miss it.
Bill Endersen