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March Tornado Reports
According to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center, more than 250 tornado reports were received during the month of March 2022. Keep in mind that these are preliminary reports, so not a final tally, however, this could be the most tornadic March on record across the nation. The current record is 192 set in 2017.
Another Midweek, Prolonged Precipitation Chance
Here's the weather outlook from AM Monday to PM Sunday. Monday will start on a somewhat damp start, but drier weather settles in much of the day Monday into AM Tuesday. The next system arrives Tuesday with rain likely and lingering showers Wednesday. The backside of the storm will feature rain/snow chances Thursday with windy conditions. The extended outlook Friday, Saturday and Sunday looks much quieter with drier skies and gradually warming temps into the weekend.
Precipitation Outlook
According to NOAA's WPC, the precipitation outlook from PM Sunday to AM Friday shows decent liquid tallies across the region. Total amounts could range from 0.50" to nearly 1.0" with
Average Ice Out Dates
We're still several weeks away from ice out across the state, but according to the MN DNR, here's a look at the average ice out dates for lakes across the state. Note that some lakes across the southern part of the state typically see ice out around the end of March. Lake Minnetonka typically doesn't see ice out until mid April. A few lakes in far northern & northeastern MN don't see ice out until late April or early May.
See more from the MN DNR HERE:
Status of Spring
"March 28, 2022 - Spring leaf out continues to progress across the country. Our spring leaf anomaly compares the arrival of spring leaf out this year to a long-term average of 1991-2020. After a slow start to spring across much of the Southeast, spring is progressing more rapidly, arriving days to weeks early across the southern part of the Midwest, the Southern Appalachians, and the mid-Atlantic. Boston, MA is two weeks early. In western states, spring leaf out is patchy, arriving a week late in some locations and over a month early in others. Parts of Montana and South Dakota are 2-3 weeks early. Spring bloom has also started to arrive in southern states, days to a week late in Texas and Florida and days to several weeks early in California. Spring bloom is over a week early in parts of Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia."
Monday Weather Outlook
The weather outlook for Minneapolis on Monday shows lingering showers in the morning as a clipper slides through the region. We should see some clearing during the 2nd half of the day with temps warming to near 50F by the afternoon. Any slushy snow accumulations from the overnight hours will melt quickly during the day.
Meteograms for Minneapolis
The hourly temps for Minneapolis on Monday shows temperature readings starting in the lower 30s in the morning and will warm to near 50F mid afternoon. There may be a few lingering showers in the morning with clouds holding on through late morning, but skies should gradually clear as the clipper system moves east. Northerly winds will be a bit breezy in the morning, but will subside through the day.
Weather Outlook on Monday
Temps around the region on Monday will be a little closer to average, especially in the metro. Folks across the Dakotas and northwestern MN will see warmer than average temps, while folks in Wisconsin and northeastern MN will see temps slightly below average.
Extended Temperature Outlook For Minneapolis
The extended temperature outlook for Minneapolis through the first full week of April shows temps hovering around average through Wednesday. However, a larger storm system will move into the region midweek with rain, thunder and eventually some snow. Temperatures on the back side of the storm will be cooler with highs falling into the mid 40s, which will be nearly -5F to -10F below average for early April.
Extended Weather Outlook For Minneapolis
The extended weather outlook over the next 7 days shows somewhat active weather in place through midweek. Showers will lingering early Monday with drier conditions in place through much of the day. The next storm brings rain chances Tuesday afternoon with a prolonged precipitation chance through Thursday. However, the end of the week and weekend ahead looks very nice with more sunshine and temperatures warming into the 50s and 60s during the weekend.
Extended Temperature Outlook For Minneapolis
According to the ECMWF & GFS extended temperature outlook, temps will warm into the 40s and 50s through the first full week of April. By mid month, we could warm into the 60s possibly near 70F.
8 to 14 Day Temperature Outlook
According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, the 8 to 14 day temperature outlook shows warmer than average temps lingering across parts of the eastern half of the nation. However, the western half of the nation will be cooler than average and especially across the Pacific Northwest.
8 to 14 Day Precipitation Outlook
According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, the 8-14 Day precipitation outlook shows drier weather in place across the Eastern Seaboard. However, more active weather will be in place across much of the rest of the nation.
Cool Wet Week But Spring Fever In Sight
By Paul Douglas
Hey Mother Nature, I'd like to return spring and get my money back! Of all seasons, like a spurned lover, spring is most cruel.
I have vivid memories of flowers blooming in late March 2012 but 2014 was a Polar Vortex spring with flooding and a late ice-out. I will take 26" snow in April of 2018 to my grave. Minnesotans take offense when it snows of their green, freshly-mowed lawns.
This is turning into another tentative spring (thank you La Nina cool phase) but the European model consistently takes us up to 70 degrees a week from today. Flashes
of warmth, interrupted by longer slogs of rain and jackets. Typical. Today looks dry and quiet, but a major storm soaks us with rain Tuesday into Wednesday. The hot cocoa concession at Target Field will be doing a brisk business Thursday, with morning puddles and flakes giving way to brightening skies and dry weather by late afternoon. Take your heavy-duty Twins jacket with "highs" in the low 40s.
Remind me not to whine about bugs, humidity and T-storms this summer.
Extended Forecast
MONDAY: Becoming partly sunny. Winds: NW 5-10. High: 50.
MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloud and quiet. Winds: SE 5-10. Low: 38.
TUESDAY: Windy with rain developing. Winds: SE 15-25. High: 50.
WEDNESDAY: Showery rains linger. Winds: W 8-13. Wake-up: 34. High: 47.
THURSDAY: Wet start, cloudy but drier PM hours. Winds: NW 15-25. Wake-up: 35. High: 41.
FRIDAY: Blue sky reappears, still cool. Winds: N 10-20. Wake-up: 30. High: 46.
SATURDAY: Sunny and springy again. Winds: W 3-8. Wake-up: 27. High: 51.
SUNDAY: Blue sky, lukewarm breezes. Winds: S 10-20. Wake-up: 37. High: 64.
This Day in Weather History
April 4th
1999: An ice storm hits Duluth and the Arrowhead. An 800 foot television tower in Duluth collapses due to the weight of the ice.
1982: A sharp cold front causes the temperature at Lamberton in Redwood County to drop from 78 to 7 degrees. This 71 degree change in 24 hours is the maximum 24-hour temperature change in Minnesota.
1837: A snowstorm rages for four days at Ft. Snelling and dumps 9 inches.
Average High/Low for Minneapolis
April 4th
Average High: 52F (Record: 81F set in 1921)
Average Low: 32F (Record: 5F set in 1995)
Record Rainfall: 0.77" set in 1932
Record Snowfall: 7.2" set in 1957
Sunrise/Sunset Times for Minneapolis
April 4th
Sunrise: 6:47am
Sunset: 7:44pm
Hours of Daylight: ~12 hours & 56 minutes
Daylight GAINED since yesterday: ~ 3 minute & 6 seconds
Daylight GAINED since Winter Solstice (December 21st): ~ 4 Hour & 16 Minutes
Moon Phase for April 4th at Midnight
4.0 Days Before First Quarter Moon
National High Temps Monday
The weather outlook on Monday shows near or slightly below average temperatures in place across the Great Lakes and Northeast with a little light rain and snow. Temps will be warmer than average along the Front Range from Denver to Billings. It'll also be warm and dry in the Southwest with highs approaching 90F in Phoenix, which will be a few degrees above average.
National Weather Outlook
Weather conditions through early next week shows somewhat active in place across the central US. A larger storm system will take shape in the Pacific Northwest with areas of rain and snow moving in.
Extended Precipitation Outlook
According to NOAA's Weather Prediction Center, in the eastern half of the nation with some of the heaviest found along the Gulf Coast States. There will also be some decent precipitation in the Midwest and in the Pacific Northwest.
Extended Snowfall Outlook
Here's the ECMWF extended snowfall outlook through next week. Areas of heavy snow will be possible across the northern tier of the nation. Heavier snow tallies could be possible in the Northeast, Midwest and the Northwest.
Climate Stories
"Why are my allergies so bad? Climate change may be partly to blame"
"Whether it's the season's cool, crisp air or leaf-peeping adventures calling you outdoors during autumn, you can be sure of one thing when you step out into nature: Ragweed will be waiting. What is ragweed? The ragweed plant, also known by the scientific name Ambrosia artemisiifolia, is a common culprit of late summer and fall allergies, causing sniffles and sneezes for 15 to 20% of Americans. And it's no wonder – not only is ragweed found in every U.S. state except for Alaska, it has a knack for survival. It thrives in poor soils. Its seeds remain viable for years. And it takes root in dirt practically everywhere, from roadsides to your rose garden. Although ragweed is an annual, meaning it lives for only one growing season, a single plant can produce up to 1 billion pollen grains. What's more, those grains are so featherlight that they can travel for hundreds of miles on a breeze. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, they've been detected as far as 400 miles out to sea and as high as two miles, the equivalent of eight Empire State Buildings, above ground."
See more from Yale Climate Connections HERE:
"No Worries, This Only Has Implications for the Entire Climate of Europe"
"Fifteen-year-old Natalie R. is fed up with the poor air quality in her home state of Utah. But rather than simply complain, she and a group of other young people are taking on who they see as the enablers of this pollution: government officials who continue to green-light fossil fuel development. Earlier this month, seven young activists filed a lawsuit against the state of Utah with the help of Our Children's Trust, a nonprofit law firm that focuses on climate justice. Natalie R. v. State of Utah alleges that the state and its elected officials unconstitutionally favor fossil fuel companies at the expense of residents' rights to a healthy and safe life. Andrew Welle, staff attorney at Our Children's Trust and lead counsel for the lawsuit, said the main issue is the public health problems young people are facing in the state."
"Global Losses From Catastrophes Reached $270 Billion in 2021"
"Hurricane Ida and the freakish winter storm that froze Texas last February topped last year's list of most damaging storms, according to the annual report on insurance industry losses caused by natural catastrophes put out by reinsurance giant Swiss Re. The report found that global economic losses from natural catastrophes such as floods, hurricanes and wildfires reached $270 billion in 2021. Of those losses, less than half, or $111 billion, were actually insured. Still, that $111 billion equaled the fourth-largest payout since the Swiss Re Institute, the insurer's research arm, began keeping records in 1970."
