Sluggish start to spring continues
The high temperature in International Falls, Minnesota, on Wednesday was only 42 degrees. There normal high for May 13 is 64 degrees. Indeed, it is taking quite some time for the Ice Box of the Nation to thaw after the very cold winter.
Temperatures for the month of May continue well below average for much of the state and cool temperatures are expected to continue today and Friday.
Through May 14 the average temperature was 4.4 degrees below normal in Duluth and 2.5 degrees below normal in Rochester. Note that a warmer spring is occurring in the Ohio Valley.
Moisture has been generous this month. As MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner noted recently, lake levels are up as well as a good flow on rivers and streams.
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On my morning walk on Wednesday I was gleeful to spy signs of spring in my neighborhood.
A few light showers will be scattered over eastern Minnesota and Wisconsin today with temperatures topping out still some 10 to 15 degrees below normal.
Nationally, we are split between heavy rains to the east and heat to our west. The Nation's high temperature on Wednesday was 106 degrees at the John Wayne Airport in Santa Anna, California.
Here's the weather headline from southern California if you are looking for warmer temperatures.
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Milder temperatures and dry skies are on tap for the weekend. If you are planning on yard work and gardening you'll want to be generous with your application of sun screen.
More information on the UV index is available from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Afternoon temperatures on Sunday are forecast to be near normal, which translates to "pretty nice."
Looking ahead as we move through the last couple weeks of the meteorological spring season, temperatures are likely to remain below normal with bouts of showers and thunderstorms in our neck of the woods.
