Spring returns, but more cold and snow ahead?
You knew it might be too good to be true. The mantra in the Weather Lab these days?
"It's still March. It's still March!"
Our weather mellows under an increasingly warm sun Thursday afternoon. Another shot of spring fever begins to work into Minnesota by Friday. Temps push into the 60s again Friday afternoon. Low humidity, warm breezes and grass fire season in March? The Sioux Falls NWS office thinks so.
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Short term forecast: Another warming trend
Temperatures recover Thursday afternoon and Friday as southwest winds blow again behind departing high pressure.
Temperatures soar again into the 60s. Reality check: The average high at MSP is still just 39 degrees Friday. Saturday looks like the sunnier, warmer day this weekend. A few showers hold temperature in the 50s Sunday.
Long range: Potentially wintry last half of March?
The longer range maps continue to come up wintry. NOAA's GFS model continues to insist on a low pressure system potentiality cold enough for snow for much of Minnesota in the days surrounding St. Patty's Day.
NOAA GFS 16 day temperature numbers continue to come up colder. Much closer to average numbers for late March? A shock to the system after our potentially false spring so far. Snow in late March? It shouldn't surprise us.
Enjoy the warm up. And don't hide the shovel just yet.
California reservoirs showing some recovery
No, the drought is not over in California. But the March Miracle continues to have a positive effect on water supplies in California's reservoir system.
Folsom Lake is showing visible signs of recovery after a few rounds of heavy rain in the past week.
More storms are slamming ashore.
The biggest storm on the maps arrives Friday. This week will very likely produce several inches of rain in the valleys, and several feet of mountain snow.
The critical importance of this belated El Nino-driven March Miracle to California water supplies is hard to overstate. This may not end California's worst drought in 1,200 years, but it now appears it could go a long way in that direction.
Stay tuned.