Rounds of rain on soggy ground could cause flooding
The big weather story for our part of the world the next few days will be the possibility of localized flash flooding, mainly across about the southern third of Minnesota.
Rain so far
It all began on Monday with an afternoon thunderstorm outbreak. Reinforcements with continuous lightning and thunder overnight Monday night into Tuesday added to the rainfalls. Areas around the Twin Cities picked up 24-hour totals in the general neighborhood of two inches. The greatest amount I saw in Minnesota was almost 4.4 inches in Danube, northwest of Redwood Falls.
Tuesday night
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Not much has been happening Tuesday afternoon. Just a few stray light showers developed in northwestern and into west central Minnesota.
Tuesday evening should remain rather quiet with just a few isolated showers possible.
I expect that numerous showers and thunderstorms will develop Tuesday night, mainly after midnight, as the nocturnal low level jet stream blows our way from the Plains. Some storms might produce hail, so a marginal risk of severe weather has been posted for southwestern Minnesota for tonight.
Significant periods of rain and thunderstorms from Wednesday through Thursday night
Atmospheric reinforcements will encourage widespread showers and thunderstorms to form and form again from Wednesday through Thursday night. Some thunderstorms will again bring bouts of heavy rain. Total rainfalls of from 4 to 6 inches are certainly possible in areas receiving training or repeated storms. Localized flash flooding will be possible in the soggy areas, especially across southern Minnesota.
Severe storm chances
While the main weather risk over the next few days will be flooding, isolated severe storms are possible. A chance of isolated severe weather has been posted for Wednesday into Wednesday night for the southern half of Minnesota.
Thursday has a better chance of severe storms on the warm side of the weather system from Iowa thru southeastern Minnesota to most of Wisconsin.
Cool, drying Friday
Rain is likely to linger into Friday in northeastern Minnesota as this weather-maker pulls slowly off to the east. Look for high temperatures just from the mid 50s to low 60s statewide on Friday.
Lovely autumnal weekend coming
The weekend should bring lots of sunshine and warming temperatures.
Farther ahead
A slow-moving storm system looks like it might bring us more widespread rainy weather next Monday and Tuesday. Yippee.
What's-left-of-Florence update
The remnants of former Hurricane Florence have been soaking parts of the Northeast from Long Island to Boston and Cape Cod. Then it will be gone. Severe flooding will continue in its wake.
