Time to eat into the moisture deficit
Since late July Mother Nature has cheated Minnesota on moisture. We could hardly buy a snow storm this past winter. But perhaps we are on the brink of cutting into the deficit in southern Minnesota. Moisture hasn't been as scarce this month.
The precipitation totals from far northwest to south range from about an inch and a half to slightly more than three inches. A beneficial precipitation event occurred in Itasca and St. Louis Counties as a combination of snow and rain fell in mid April -- yet lake levels remain low.
Precipitation image for April 16th provide by NOAA
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Some locations in central and southern Minnesota tallied more than a half of an inch of moisture in the past week. Here's a look at the moisture departure from early August to late April:
Source: Minnesota Climatological Working Group
Warmer temperatures are seen for the middle of the work week and those temps, along with increasing dew points, will create an environment favorable for thunderstorms. The first round of storms enters the weather scene on Tuesday and continues into Tuesday night.
There is a risk for strong thunderstorms, producing hail and gusty winds Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center
There was enough cloud cover extending into the afternoon hours to hold the temperatures in the lower 60s in east central Minnesota.
As anticipated, NOAA released an update of the temperature outlook for the month of May today.
Source: NOAA Climate Prediction Center
A warm front may set up over central Minnesota on Wednesday. Warm fronts are known for spawning some good rainfall amounts, particularly overnight. We'll see.
--Craig Edwards