July preview: Warmest of 2015 so far likely Wednesday

The Weather Lab has issued another Hooky Watch for Wednesday.

Bright sun and a July-like air mass will challenge for the warmest day of the year so far in much of Minnesota. Your local bank thermometer or car thermometer may flash 86 degrees around 5 p.m. Wednesday. With dew points falling into the comfy upper 40s, it will feel comfortably warm and dry Wednesday afternoon. Local restaurants will need to staff up for a boom in patio dining Wednesday.

Palm Springs. With hot dish.

Yes, I'm forecasting a higher than average number of "personal holidays" Wednesday. Enjoy it. The rain returns by late Thursday.

Top 5 weather day

Forget top 10 weather days. Wednesday may be in the top five best days of the year in Minnesota. Seriously, what would you pay in February for a day with bright sun, low humidity, temperatures in the mid-80s and no bugs? Our 36 hours of weather bliss gives way to the next low pressure system, and more rain and thunder by Thursday evening. Green blobs return to the weather maps over Minnesota late Thursday.

Thursday's weather maps look "interesting." Moisture surges north again ahead of the next low. Storms that develop into Thursday night will probably be slow movers. The prospect for heavy, even flooding rains appears to be growing. Another shot of 1 to 2 inches or more of rain looks likely for parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Thursday night into Friday morning.

A few of the storms late Thursday could be severe. I concur with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center on the threat for a few severe storms Thursday.

We dry out on fresh northerly breezes Friday. Canadian high pressure should ensure a sunny and pleasantly cool weekend with highs in the 60s.

Crop Report: Rains push soils moisture to high levels

This week's Minnesota Crop Report confirms the effects of our recent rainy trend. Much of Minnesota's soil is now showing adequate to surplus soil moisture. Farmers have been having difficulty in some areas getting into soggy fields.

Precipitation accompanied with cool temperatures across Minnesota limited farmers to only 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 24, 2015, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Frost was reported across the northern two-thirds of the state. There were reports of drowned out portions of fields that may need to be replanted. When conditions allowed, field activities for the week included planting and spraying.

Soil moisture levels increased for the second straight week. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 0 percent very short, 4 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 85 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus.

It was another wet week across the Upper Midwest.