Showers and thunderstorms at times; hurricane Lane’s rain and winds hit Hawaii

Periods of showers and thunderstorms are in our Minnesota forecast Friday and Friday night, and a few strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible.

The Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service shows a slight risk of severe weather for parts of southern Minnesota this Friday and Friday night:

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NWS Storm Prediction Center

The remainder of southern Minnesota, and portions of the Twin Cities metro area, have a marginal risk of severe weather, according to the SPC.

Slight risk means that scattered severe thunderstorms are possible, and marginal risk means that an isolated severe thunderstorm is possible:

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Rain chances this weekend

Here's how our Minnesota rain chances look for this weekend and beyond:

  • The daylight hours of Saturday are expected to be rain-free across most of Minnesota.

  • Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible overnight Saturday night and on Sunday.

  • Periods of showers and thunderstorms are expected in much of Minnesota Sunday night into Monday.

  • A few showers could linger into early Tuesday

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model shows the potential precipitation pattern from Saturday evening through Tuesday afternoon:

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NOAA GFS precipitation rate (mm/hour) Satrurday evening through Tuesday afternoon, via tropicaltidbits

The color chart to the right of the loop refers to the precipitation rate (millimeters per hour), not to the total amount of rain.

Temperature trends 

Minnesota highs are expected to be mainly in the 70s Friday afternoon, with some 60s in the northeast. Saturday highs should reach the 80s over southern and central Minnesota, with 70s north:

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The same high temperature pattern is expected on Sunday:

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Twin Cities metro area highs retreat to the upper 70s for Monday and Tuesday of next week.

Hurricane Lane

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NOAA Infrared satellite loop of Hurricane Lane early on Aug. 24

Hurricane Lane was a Category 3 hurricane as of Friday morning, with max winds of 120 mph.

Lane’s damaging winds and heavy rains are hitting the Hawaiian Islands, and hurricane warnings are in effect from Oahu to Maui.  A tropical storm warning continues for the Big Island of Hawaii.

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NOAA/NWS Central Pacific Hurricane Center

The latest public advisory from NOAA’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu:

Hurricane Lane Intermediate Advisory Number 39A

NWS Central Pacific Hurricane Center Honolulu HI EP142018

200 AM HST Fri Aug 24 2018

...DANGEROUS HURRICANE LANE MOVING NORTH TOWARD THE MAIN

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS...

...CATASTROPHIC FLOODING OCCURRING ON THE BIG ISLAND OF

HAWAII...

SUMMARY OF 200 AM HST...1200 UTC...INFORMATION

----------------------------------------------

LOCATION...18.4N 158.0W

ABOUT 160 MI...255 KM SW OF KAILUA-KONA HAWAII

ABOUT 200 MI...320 KM S OF HONOLULU HAWAII

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...120 MPH...195 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...N OR 360 DEGREES AT 5 MPH...8 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...956 MB...28.23 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

--------------------

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...

* Oahu

* Maui County...including the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and

Kahoolawe

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Hawaii County

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* Kauai County...including the islands of Kauai and Niihau

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected

somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and

property should be rushed to completion.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are

expected somewhere within the warning area.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible

within the watch area.

Interests in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands should monitor

the progress of Hurricane Lane.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor

products issued by the National Weather Service office in

Honolulu Hawaii.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

----------------------

At 200 AM HST (1200 UTC), the center of Hurricane Lane was located

near latitude 18.4 North, longitude 158.0 West. Lane is moving

toward the north near 5 mph (8 km/h), and this general motion is

expected to continue today. A turn toward the west is anticipated

Saturday, with an increase in forward speed. On the latest forecast

track, the center of Lane will move over, or dangerously close to

portions of the main Hawaiian islands later today and tonight.

Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph (195 km/h) with higher

gusts. Lane remains a powerful category 3 hurricane on the

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some weakening is forecast

from later today and tonight through late Saturday, but Lane is

expected to remain a dangerous hurricane as it approaches the

islands.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from

the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125

miles (205 km).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 956 mb (28.23 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

----------------------

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are already occurring on the Big

Island, Maui County and Oahu. These conditions will likely persist

through this morning. Hurricane conditions are expected over some

areas of Maui County and Oahu starting later today or tonight.

Tropical storm or hurricane conditions are possible on Kauai

starting tonight or Saturday.

RAINFALL: Rain bands will continue to overspread the Hawaiian

Islands well ahead of Lane. Excessive rainfall associated with this

slow moving hurricane will continue to impact the Hawaiian Islands

into the weekend, leading to catastrophic and life-threatening flash

flooding and landslides. Lane is expected to produce total rain

accumulations of 10 to 20 inches, with localized amounts of 30 to 40

inches possible over portions of the Hawaiian Islands. Over two feet

of rain has already fallen at a few locations on the windward side

of the Big Islands.

SURF: Very large swells generated by the slow moving hurricane will

severely impact the Hawaiian Islands into this weekend. These swells

will produce life-threatening and damaging surf along exposed

shorelines. In addition, a prolonged period of extreme surf will

also likely lead to significant coastal erosion.

STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large

breaking waves will raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet

above normal tide levels along south and west facing shores near

the center of Lane. The surge will be accompanied by large and

destructive waves.

The NWS Honolulu office will be posting updated localized forecasts for Hawaii.

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.