Minnesota autumnal bliss. Forecast success but failed response in Puerto Rico
This will be one of those days when it's hard to find somebody who complains about the weather. Wait, did I just say that?
Welcome to the coolest morning in 4 months across much of Minnesota. The mercury at MSP Airport bottomed out at 48 degrees this morning. That's the coolest morning since MSP recorded 46 degrees on May 24th. I saw 39 at Walker, Wadena, and Ortonville this morning, and 37 at Elbow Lake.
Minnesota rides the front edge of a cool blue air mass on the maps pushing into the western U.S.
Blue skies
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Sunshine returns across Minnesota today. Many of us can use a few days to dry out. The big map across the U.S. shows Tropical Storm Maria spinning off the Outer Banks then pushing out to sea. Good riddance. High pressure should keep skies over the Upper Midwest mostly sunny into Saturday. The next real rain chance arrives Sunday.
Back to the 60s
September temperatures are running 5.6 degrees warmer than average at MSP Airport as we head for the exit. The rest of the week looks pleasant and seasonal with highs mostly in the 60s. The best shots at 70 degrees come Thursday and again next Tuesday.
Mild and wet next week?
The models are a bit in flux for next week. The overall notion of warmer temperatures with another bout of rain seems reasonable at we open...October.
Puerto Rico struggles continue
I wish I or other meteorologists had the opportunity to order action for FEMA and the U.S. military in the days before Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico. The forecast tracks and intensity for a major hurricane direct hit on the island were clear 3 to 4 days before the storm hit.
The data was clearly there to preposition massive naval and air resources along the U.S. Gulf coast to be ready to sweep into Puerto Rico in the days immediately following the storm. Some resources could have also been propositioned in Puerto Rico 3-4 days before Maria hit. The fact that that did not happen is a major failure of tragic proportions.
The forecast was a success. The response is tragic.
The situation continues to be dire for millions of U.S. citizens.
We could have done so much better.