Harvey weakens and moves northeastward; pleasant Minnesota forecast
Tropical Storm Harvey has weakened, and is now a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph.
As of Thursday morning, Harvey was centered 15 miles south of Monroe, Louisiana and was moving north-northeastward at 10 mph.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's North American Mesoscale forecast model shows how tropical depression Harvey's rains will spread northeastward through Thursday and Thursday night:
The color chart to the right of the loop refers to the strength of the signal that returns to the radar, not to the amount of rain.
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In addition to the historic rainfall amounts that Harvey brought to Texas and parts of Louisiana, Harvey also set a new Texas record for the longevity of a tropical system:
Watching Irma
Hurricane forecasters are watching Tropical Storm Irma, which is expected to become a hurricane today in the eastern Atlantic.
The latest on Irma, from the National Hurricane Center :
BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Irma Advisory Number 4
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL112017
500 AM AST Thu Aug 31 2017
...IRMA CLOSE TO HURRICANE STRENGTH...
SUMMARY OF 500 AM AST...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...16.5N 32.9W
ABOUT 590 MI...950 KM W OF THE CABO VERDE ISLANDS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...70 MPH...110 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 280 DEGREES AT 12 MPH...19 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...997 MB...29.44 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Irma was
located near latitude 16.5 North, longitude 32.9 West. Irma is
moving toward the west near 12 mph (19 km/h). A west-northwestward
motion is expected today and tonight, followed by a generally
westward motion on Friday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 70 mph (110 km/h)
with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast, and
Irma is likely to become a hurricane later today.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km)
from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 997 mb (29.44 inches).
Irma is moving westward, and could be near the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean by next Tuesday night or Wednesday:
Some models show the potential for Irma to eventually moving close to Florida:
And we all hope that Irma doesn't enter the Gulf of Mexico:
Forecasting hurricane tracks more than one week in advance is very difficult, but Irma will need to be watched very closely.
Nice weather for Minnesota
Other than some fog and patchy drizzle Thursday morning in southwestern Minnesota, we'll see pleasant weather today.
On Friday, scattered showers could move into western Minnesota, with that chance of showers spreading into eastern Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro area Friday evening or Friday night.
Eastern Minnesota could see a lingering shower early on Saturday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential rain pattern Friday into Saturday morning:
Saturday afternoon through Labor Day should be dry across most of Minnesota.
Temperature trends
Many spots will see highs in the lower 70s Thursday afternoon, with 60s in northeastern Minnesota.
Similar highs are expected on Friday:
On Saturday, lower 80s are possible in southern Minnesota, with mostly 70s central and north.
Sunday high temps will be in the lower 80s in central and southern Minnesota, with 70s north:
High temps dip a bit on Labor Day, with 60s north and 70s south:
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.