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Frosty Start Thursday Morning
If you have any plants outside, make sure you bring them in or cover them up as we head into Wednesday Night as frost is expected across much of the state. The best potential to avoid frosty conditions would be in the Twin Cities metro, however, it's always safer to take some safety precautions to save your early season plants.
Due to the potential of frost Wednesday Night into Thursday morning, some Frost Advisories have been issued across central and southern Minnesota where the growing season has begun.
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Thursday Weather Outlook
After a chilly start in the upper 30s Thursday morning in the Twin Cities, highs are expected to climb into the low 60s under mainly sunny skies.
As we look statewide, a pretty quiet day is expected with fairly sunny skies and highs in the 50s and 60s. In most locations, these highs will be about 5F degrees below average. By the evening hours, we may have to watch for a few isolated thunderstorms in some locations.
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Fire Weather Concerns
As we head through Thursday, strong winds and low humidity values will once again lead to fire weather concerns across portions of central and northern Minnesota. There is also the slight chance of a few thunderstorms by the evening hours that could provide some dry lightning. Due to this, Fire Weather Watches are in place.
Here's a look at the peak wind gusts expected Thursday - out of the northwest up to around 30 mph.
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Looking Toward Friday And Mother's Day Weekend
Don't forget - Mother's Day is this Sunday! And while you may find a shortage of flowers out there according to news reports, the weather looks fairly decent even if highs are going to be below average. For those starting the weekend early on Friday, we should see mainly sunny skies. Saturday will see a few more clouds with about a 20% chance of some isolated showers Saturday afternoon into the overnight hours. Sunday looks fairly cloudy - but dry - at the moment. Highs Friday through Sunday are expected to be in the upper 50s.
For Mother's Day Sunday, I'm expecting fairly cloudy skies across the southern third of the state, with a few more peeks of sun possible as you head north. Highs will mainly be in the 50s, with a few 40s possible along the North Shore.
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May 6, 1965 Tornadoes
Thursday marks the anniversary of the May 6, 1965, metro tornado outbreak, with a total of six tornadoes occurring across the region - four of which were F4 rated. You can read more from the Minnesota State Climatology Department here and from the National Weather Service here. Paul also has more on the night below.
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Remembering The Longest Night: May 6, 1965
By Paul Douglas
56 years ago today a swarm of 6 large, long-track, Kansas-size tornadoes roared across the Twin Cities metro area. 14 people were killed, at least 683 Minnesotans injured. Fridley was hit at least twice by 2 different F4 strength tornadoes, about as powerful as they ever get.
There was no Doppler radar network in 1965. The National Weather Service was using older radar technology, coupled with first-hand phone reports and live, blow-by-blow coverage on WCCO Radio.
What keeps me up at night? Tornado apathy. In spite of Doppler radar, a similar outbreak today could leave scores, even hundreds dead. We have become complacent.
An extended stretch of cool weather means a minimal severe storm risk until further notice, but May and June are peak months for damaging hail and tornadoes. Long range weather models show moderation by mid-May with 70s returning. A storm passes south of Minnesota this weekend.
One cool and quiet silver lining: good field and garden conditions with no soaking rains in sight.
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Paul's Extended Twin Cities Forecast
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy, late shower. Wake up 38. High 61. Chance of precipitation 30%. Wind NW 10-20 mph.
FRIDAY: Partly sunny and cool. Wake up 39. High 57. Chance of precipitation 10%. Wind NW 10-15 mph.
SATURDAY: Plenty of sunshine. Wake up 39. High 62. Chance of precipitation 10%. Wind E 8-13 mph.
SUNDAY: Blue sky, comfortable. Wake up 42. High 61. Chance of precipitation 10%. Wind NE 8-13 mph.
MONDAY: Mix of clouds and sun, dry. Wake up 39. High 60. Chance of precipitation 10%. Wind E 5-10 mph.
TUESDAY: More clouds than sun. Wake up 44. High 63. Chance of precipitation 10%. Wind S 7-12 mph.
WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny, late thunder? Wake up 46. High 67. Chance of precipitation 30%. Wind SW 10-15 mph.
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Minneapolis Weather Almanac And Sun Data
May 6th
*Length Of Day: 14 hours, 30 minutes and 14 seconds
*Daylight GAINED Since Yesterday: ~2 minutes and 35 seconds
*When Do We Climb To 15 Hours Of Daylight? May 19th (15 hours, 0 minutes, and 40 seconds)
*When Is The Sunrise At/Before 5:30 AM?: May 30th (5:30 AM)
*When Is The Sunset At/After 8:30 PM?: May 11th (8:31 PM)
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This Day in Weather History
May 6th
1965: 6 strong tornadoes, 4 of which were rated F4 on the Fujita Scale, devastate parts of east central Minnesota, including parts of the Twin Cities metro area. 14 people are killed, and 683 are injured. 2 of the F4 tornadoes hit Fridley.
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National Weather Forecast
As we head through Thursday, an area of low pressure moving near the Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley will produce some showers and storms, with some snow showers possible in northern portions of the Great Lakes. An area of low pressure near the Carolina coast will bring the Mid-Atlantic some storms. A cold front approaching the Pacific Northwest will bring rain and higher elevation snow to the region.
The heaviest rain through the end of the workweek will continue to be near the Gulf Coast, where an additional 3"+ could fall from Wednesday through Friday. Snowfall amounts out in the western mountains will generally be on the lighter side.
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Global Vaccine Crisis Sends Ominous Signal for Fighting Climate Change
More from the New York Times: "The stark gap in vaccination rates between the world's rich and poor countries is emerging as a test for how the world responds to that other global challenge: averting the worst effects of climate change. Of the more than 1.1 billion vaccinations administered globally, the vast majority have gone into the arms of people who live in the wealthiest countries. The United States, where nearly half the population has received at least one dose, sits on millions of surplus doses, while India, with a 9 percent vaccination rate, shatters records in new daily infections. In New York City, you hear cries of relief at the chance to breathe free and unmasked; in New Delhi, cries for oxygen. The vaccine gap presents an object lesson for climate action because it signals the failure of richer nations to see it in their self-interest to urgently help poorer ones fight a global crisis. That has direct parallels to global warming."
NOAA's New Climate Normals Show the U.S. Has Never Been Hotter
More from Earther: "The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wants us to know it's not the 1980s anymore. On Tuesday, it announced new 30-year averages for temperature and precipitation. Unsurprisingly, the "new normal" is hotter. ... The nation illustrated by the new climate normals is hotter than the one displayed in the ones from the recent past. The majority of the contiguous U.S. was hotter from 1991 to 2020 than it was from 1981 to 2010, and the 30-year average temperature for the contiguous U.S. was 53.28 degrees Fahrenheit (11.82 degrees Celsius, and yes, NOAA does take it to the hundredth of a degree). The agency confirmed that's a record high to the Washington Post. Much of the country also got wetter: The eastern two-thirds of the nation saw more precipitation overall."
Widespread Drought in Mexico
More from NASA: "Mexico is experiencing one of its most widespread and intense droughts in decades. Nearly 85 percent of the country is facing drought conditions as of April 15, 2021. Large reservoirs across the country are standing at exceptionally low levels, straining water resources for drinking, farming, and irrigation. The mayor of Mexico City called it the worst drought in 30 years for the city, which is home to about 9 million people."
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Thanks for checking in and have a great day! Don't forget to follow me on Twitter (@dkayserwx) and like me on Facebook (Meteorologist D.J. Kayser).
- D.J. Kayser
