A steamy afternoon; thunderstorms at times this afternoon and evening, with a severe storm possible
I'll start with a word of caution.
The National Weather Service radar in Duluth went down Saturday evening, and the radar was still down late Sunday morning:
This message was sent from the Duluth NWS office Saturday evening:
Distant radars will only show the tallest thunderstorms, so don't get a false sense of security if your app isn't showing thunderstorms in your part of northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin today and tonight.
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You'll want to take cover if you see lightning or hear thunder.
You can check on the status of the Duluth NWS radar here.
Flooding rains Saturday night
Overnight rains brought flooding and washed-out roads to parts of northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.
A summary, from the Duluth NWS:
More rain is expected today:
Thunderstorms could dump higher amounts of rain in some spots.
Parts of east-central and northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin remain in a flood warning today through tonight:
Details of the flood warning:
Flood Warning
National Weather Service Duluth MN
728 AM CDT SUN JUN 17 2018
MNC001-017-115-WIC007-013-031-113-129-181230-
/O.NEW.KDLH.FA.W.0007.180617T1228Z-180618T1230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Aitkin MN-Pine MN-Carlton MN-Bayfield WI-Douglas WI-Washburn WI-
Burnett WI-Sawyer WI-
728 AM CDT SUN JUN 17 2018
The National Weather Service in Duluth MN has issued a
* Flood Warning for...
Southeastern Aitkin County in east central Minnesota...
Pine County in east central Minnesota...
Southwestern Carlton County in northeastern Minnesota...
Southwestern Bayfield County in northwestern Wisconsin...
Southern Douglas County in northwestern Wisconsin...
Washburn County in northwestern Wisconsin...
Burnett County in northwestern Wisconsin...
Northwestern Sawyer County in northwestern Wisconsin...
* Until 730 AM CDT Monday
* At 728 AM CDT, local law enforcement reported flooding from
overnight thunderstorms continued. Between 2 and 12 inches of rain
fell overnight across the warned area and that water will move
through streams and tributaries into main stem rivers today.
Expect flooding to continue as the surge of water moves
downstream, including locations which did not receive much rain
overnight.
* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Pine City, Spooner, Hayward, Hinckley, Sandstone, Rock Creek, Shell
Lake, Grantsburg, Round Lake, Trego, Cable, Trade Lake, Siren,
Wascott, Webster, Mahtowa, Barnum, Solon Springs, Minong, and Stone
Lake.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Please report flooding to your local law enforcement agency when you
can do so safely.
The flood warning areas, plus the dark green shaded areas (including Duluth), are in a flash flood watch today through Monday morning due to potential for flash flooding in spots that receive heavy rain.
Updates will be available from the Duluth office of the National Weather Service.
Severe weather outlook
Some strong to severe thunderstorms could develop this afternoon and this evening.
The Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service includes the Twin Cities metro area and much of southern Minnesota and western-central and northern Wisconsin in a slight risk of severe weather this afternoon and tonight:
Slight risk means that scattered severe thunderstorms are possible:
________________________________________________________________________________
Noon update
The SPC has changed the slight risk area a bit, but it still includes the Twin Cities metro area this afternoon and into tonight:
________________________________________________________________________________
In the Twin Cities metro area, our thunderstorm chances will be highest in the mid-to-late afternoon and evening hours.
Updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and updates are also posted on the MPR News live weather blog.
This will also be a good weekend to have your NOAA weather radio or mobile phone weather app nearby for weather warnings.
Travelers will want to be aware of which county they are in, because weather warning headlines typically list the county or counties being warned.
Steamy
It’ll be a steamy Sunday. An excessive heat warning is in effect for the Twin Cities metro area until 7 p.m., with heat advisories until 7 p.m. in parts of southern Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin:
Details of the excessive heat warning for the metro area, which continues to 7 p.m. this Sunday evening:
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
704 AM CDT Sun Jun 17 2018
MNZ060>063-068>070-172015-
/O.CON.KMPX.EH.W.0002.000000T0000Z-180618T0000Z/
Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-Carver-Scott-Dakota-
Including the cities of Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater,
Chaska, Shakopee, and Hastings
704 AM CDT Sun Jun 17 2018
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING...
* TEMPERATURE...High temperatures in the lower 90s will combine
with high humidity to yield peak heat indices in the 98 to 103
degree range this afternoon.
* IMPACTS...Heat illnesses are possible for those active
outdoors or those susceptible to heat illnesses, such as
children and the elderly.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Take extra precautions...if you work or spend time outside. When
possible...reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing when
possible and drink plenty of water.
To reduce risk during outdoor work...the occupational safety and
health administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks
in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by
heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke
is an emergency...call 9 1 1.
An Excessive Heat Warning means that a prolonged period of
dangerously hot temperatures will occur. The combination of hot
temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous
situation in which heat illnesses are likely. Drink plenty of
fluids...stay in an air-conditioned room...stay out of the sun...
and check up on relatives and neighbors.
Young children and pets should never be left unattended in
vehicles under any circumstances. This is especially true during
warm or hot weather when car interiors can reach lethal
temperatures in a matter of minutes.
And the heat advisory for south-central Minnesota:
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
704 AM CDT Sun Jun 17 2018
MNZ067-074>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ024-172015-
/O.CON.KMPX.HT.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-180618T0000Z/
Sibley-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth-
Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn-Pierce-
Including the cities of Gaylord, New Ulm, St Peter, Le Sueur,
Faribault, Red Wing, St James, Mankato, Waseca, Owatonna,
Fairmont, Blue Earth, Albert Lea, River Falls, and Prescott
704 AM CDT Sun Jun 17 2018
...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...
* TEMPERATURE...High temperatures in the lower 90s will combine
with high humidity to yield peak heat indices in the 95 to 100
degree range this afternoon.
* IMPACTS...Heat illnesses are possible for those active
outdoors or those susceptible to heat illnesses, such as
children and the elderly.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Heat Advisory means that a period of hot temperatures is
expected. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity
will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are
possible. Drink plenty of fluids...stay in an air-conditioned
room...stay out of the sun...and check up on relatives and
neighbors.
Take extra precautions...if you work or spend time outside. When
possible...reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing when
possible and drink plenty of water.
To reduce risk during outdoor work...the occupational safety and
health administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks
in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by
heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke
is an emergency...call 9 1 1.
Here are the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke:
Some heat safety tips:
[image]
Cooler temps are expected this coming week. Twin Cities metro area highs are expected to be in the upper 70s Monday and Tuesday, lower 80s Wednesday through Friday.
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.