Scattered T-Showers tonight; massive hail in Denver
Hit or Miss
They say in life, timing is everything. In real estate, it's location, location, location.
Weather is the ultimate synthesis of timing and location.
A weak low pressure system brings scattered thundershowers to Minnesota tonight. Spotty storm clusters will blotch the radar screen into the wee hours Tuesday. NOAA's High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model captures the hour by hour theme of spotty showers tonight.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
'Very low' severe risk
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center pains a "marginal" risk for severe storms tonight across southern Minnesota. Most storms tonight will be sub-severe. But a few will produce local downpours, hail and gusty winds. The severe threat in the Twin Cities is low, but not zero.
Communicating severe risk
Clear and precise communication is probably the most important task we have in severe weather situations. Making severe weather information understandable and actionable is every bit as critical as meteorological precision.
Those of you who read this space on a regular basis know I'm not a fan of NOAA's latest version of severe weather "risk categories."
To me, five severe risk categories is two too many. And since when does "enhanced" imply less risk than "moderate?"
I prefer NOAA's previous "3 light stop light" version. Communicating severe weather risk as "slight risk," "moderate risk," and "high risk" is more effective in my professional experience.
Stable weather pattern returns this week
We may get rain before midnight at MSP, but as of this writing Monday is the 6th straight day without measurable rainfall at MSP Airport. Our "mostly dry" spell resumes Tuesday and last the rest of this week. After early Tuesday morning, the next chance for (light) rain appears late Friday night into Saturday.
This looks like another great spring week overall. Here's a quick glance at the Twin Cities forecast going forward this week.
Wetter next week?
The usually trusty European model generates some rainfall next Monday and Tuesday. NOAA's GFS is holding off on that notion but advertising much wetter pattern with an approaching low pressure storm around May 19-21st.
Stay tuned.
Damaging hail in Denver
Thunderstorms cranked massive, damaging hail in and around Denver this afternoon.
The hail blew out many car windows around metro Denver.
The hail covered freeways like heavy snow.
Hail cores shot high up inside violent storm updrafts.
Hail is common in May in Colorado.
Norway House event Tuesday evening
Noway House in Minneapolis is hosting an interesting event Tuesday evening. You can get free tickets here.
DESCRIPTION
On Tuesday, May 9, the Norway House will host a moderated discussion on Exploring Earth Systems: the Geoversiv Approach to Smart Future-Building, with Don Shelby and Joseph Robertson. The event will be held in the Norway House gallery, where explorer David Thoreson's brilliant, moving photography exhibit 'Over the Horizon' is currently on display.
The event begins at 7:00 pm CDT, with an informal reception.
At 7:30, Don Shelby—prize-winning journalist and a pioneer in the communiction of climate change science and the need for climate-smart policy—will introduce the evening's guest speaker.
Joseph Robertson—founder and president of the Geoversiv Foundation—will present the Geoversiv approach to building a climate-smart generative economy.
After the Geoversiv presentation, Don Shelby will moderate a discussion between Joseph Robertson and the audience.