United States of Extreme Weather

One massive storm system. Several different extreme weather results.

A massive low-pressure center swirls over Denver. The effects of the giant comma-shaped storm stretch from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

Welcome light rains in Minnesota. Record April heat in Seattle. Prolific snow totals in Colorado's high country.  Torrential downpours and flash floods along the tail end of the troubled front in Houston.

When you get 15 inches of rain, there's just nowhere for the water to go. Cue the weather drones.

Rainfall totals between 10 and 17 inches are common across the Houston area with this storm. The heaviest totals of 15 inches-plus focused in the western suburbs.

The 9.92 inches at Houston's Intercontinental Airport makes it the second wettest day in Houston history according to the Houston National Weather Service office.

Scattered heavy storms may dump another 2 inches-plus on Houston. Not the best of news with ground already underwater. Flash flood watches continue into Wednesday.

Colorado snow totals reach 4 feet

In the cold air underneath the spinning low, some incredible snowfall totals in Colorado's high country. White gold for skiers. Soon to be liquid gold for Colorado river systems.

Record April heat in Pacific Northwest

Meanwhile, Seattle basks in the warmest April day on record.

Almost 90 in Seattle in April? My spidey senses tell me it may be a long hot summer in Minnesota.

Portland eventually hit 89 Monday, as record heat blanketed the Pacific Northwest.

Temperatures push 90 again in Seattle and Portland, Ore., today.

Minnesota: Welcome rains

The extreme weather events around the country make our showers seem tame by comparison. Rainfall totals so far of one-quarter of an inch are common with some locally higher amounts. Additional totals across Minnesota look light and spotty, as heavier storm totals favor Iowa through Wednesday.

The low pressure center swings east toward Chicago this week. Minnesota rides the northern edge of the system.

Back to the 60s

We cool off this week back to the 60s, closer to our now average high of 60 degrees in the metro. Spotty rain today and tomorrow. Sun returns later this week. More showers look likely by Sunday.

Edge of drought

We'll take the rain this week. Drought and abnormally dry conditions (pre-drought) creeps into western Minnesota in the latest U.S. Drought Monitor. The Twin Cities metro is running about an inch behind on rainfall since March 1.

Meanwhile in the Indian Ocean

Weather Underground has an update on the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded there.

Another view from the Capital Weather Gang.

Speaking of Capital Weather Gang, I'm headed to Washington, D.C., later this week with CWG Weather Editor Jason Samenow and other national weather and climate journalists, scientists and law experts for a conference on communicating uncertainty in climate change and science at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Communicating uncertainty in science is a challenge, as we clearly communicate what we know, what is actionable, and what we are in the process of learning. More on that in a future Climate Cast.

Meanwhile I had to smile at the latest research that shower meteorologists aren't perceived as creepy.