Warm August; pleasant through Friday
We're getting used to this.
The average temperature at Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport was 2.2 degrees above normal for the month of August. August was our 12th consecutive month with a warmer than normal average monthly temperature!
Will the streak continue?
The Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service shows equal chances of an above or below normal temperature for the month of September:
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Pleasant weather continues
High pressure will dominate our weather through Saturday, with plenty of sun and highs in the 70s over Minnesota:
On Sunday, we could see scattered showers and thunderstorms. There is a good chance of occasional showers and thunderstorms Sunday night and Labor Day.
Tropical update
Tropical storm Hermine is approaching the Florida panhandle, and is expected to become a hurricane before it makes landfall:
Here are details from the National Hurricane Center:
BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM HERMINE INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 15A
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL092016
700 AM CDT THU SEP 01 2016
...HERMINE STRENGTHENS...
SUMMARY OF 700 AM CDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...27.1N 86.2W
ABOUT 195 MI...310 KM SSW OF APALACHICOLA FLORIDA
ABOUT 235 MI...380 KM WSW OF TAMPA FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH...100 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 20 DEGREES AT 12 MPH...19 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...992 MB...29.29 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
None.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Suwannee River to Mexico Beach
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Anclote River to Suwannee River
* West of Mexico Beach to Destin
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Anclote River to Suwannee River
* West of Mexico Beach to Destin
* Marineland to South Santee River
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* North of South Santee River to Surf City
Interests along the United States east coast elsewhere in North
Carolina should monitor the progress of this system.
For storm information specific to your area, including possible
inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your
local National Weather Service forecast office.
DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
At 700 AM CDT (1200 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Hermine was
located near latitude 27.1 North, longitude 86.2 West. Hermine is
moving toward the north-northeast near 12 mph (19 km/h), and this
motion with a slight increase in forward speed is expected during
the next day or so. On the forecast track, the center of Hermine
will be near the Florida coast in the warning area tonight or early
Friday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph (100 km/h)
with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is anticipated, and
Hermine is expected to be a hurricane by the time landfall occurs.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km)
to the east and southeast of the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter
plane was 992 mb (29.29 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected to reach the coast
within the warning area beginning tonight. Winds are expected to
first reach tropical storm strength by this afternoon, making
outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to
protect life and property should be rushed to completion. Tropical
storm conditions are expected to begin within the warning area along
the Atlantic coast on Friday. Tropical storm conditions are
possible in the tropical storm watch area by Friday night and
Saturday.
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the
tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by
rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. There is a danger
of life-threatening inundation within the next 36 hours along the
Gulf coast of Florida from Aripeka to Indian Pass. For a depiction
of areas at risk, please see the Prototype National Weather Service
Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic. Persons located within these
areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property
from rising water. Promptly follow any instructions, including
evacuation orders, from local officials.
The water could reach the following heights above ground if the
peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Destin to Indian Pass...1 to 3 feet
Indian Pass to Chassahowitzka...4 to 7 feet
Chassahowitzka to Aripeka...2 to 4 feet
Aripeka to Bonita Beach...including Tampa Bay...1 to 3 feet
Florida-Georgia line to Cape Fear...1 to 3 feet
The Prototype National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning
Graphic is a depiction of areas that would qualify for inclusion
under a storm surge watch or warning currently under development by
the National Weather Service and planned for operational use in
2017. This prototype graphic is available at
www.hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?wsurge
RAINFALL: Hermine is expected to produce storm total rainfall
accumulations of 5 to 10 inches over portions of northwest Florida
and southern Georgia through Friday, with possible isolated maximum
amounts of 20 inches. On Friday and Saturday, Hermine is expected to
produce totals of 4 to 8 inches with local amounts of 10 inches
possible across portions of eastern Georgia, South Carolina, and
eastern North Carolina through Saturday. These rains may cause
life-threatening flash flooding.
TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible this afternoon into Friday
morning over north Florida and southeast Georgia. The tornado risk
will continue across the eastern Carolinas from Friday morning into
Friday night.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Lester could come close to the big island of Hawaii by late Friday:
Here is the most recent advisory on Hurricane Lester:
HURRICANE LESTER ADVISORY NUMBER 31
NWS CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER HONOLULU HI EP132016
1100 PM HST WED AUG 31 2016
...WEAKENING HURRICANE LESTER MOVING WESTWARD TOWARD THE HAWAIIAN
ISLANDS...
SUMMARY OF 1100 PM HST...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...18.2N 142.4W
ABOUT 835 MI...1345 KM E OF HILO HAWAII
ABOUT 1030 MI...1655 KM E OF HONOLULU HAWAII
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...110 MPH...175 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 275 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...967 MB...28.56 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
Interests in the Hawaiian Islands should monitor the progress of
Lester.
DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
At 1100 PM HST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Lester was
located near latitude 18.2 North, longitude 142.4 West. Lester is
moving toward the west near 14 mph (22 km/h) and this motion is
expected to gradually become west northwest, with little change in
forward speed, through late Friday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 110 mph (175 km/h) with higher
gusts. Some weakening is forecast through late Friday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles
(165 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 967 mb (28.56 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
Surf...Swells generated by Lester will start to build over east
facing shores Thursday and Friday. Surf will peak this weekend,
becoming very large and damaging along east facing shores.