No rain in sight, a bit warmer

We haven't reached 70 degrees in the Twin Cities since last Saturday, but our upper 60s this Thursday afternoon were slightly above our average high of 66 degrees.

We'll top out around 70 tomorrow:

and

Most of Minnesota saw plenty of sunshine today, and the late afternoon satellite picture shows mostly clear skies over central and southern Minnesota:

The clear skies will be great for star-gazing, and some of us could also see the Northern Lights tonight:

Clouds return

A low pressure system to our southeast will move northward tomorrow and tomorrow night:

It could spread some clouds over southeastern and east-central Minnesota and western Wisconsin late Friday into Saturday.

Scattered light rain showers will also be possible, mainly early Saturday, over far southeastern Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin.

Saturday highs will be mainly in the 60s:

Hurricane Matthew

Tropical storm Matthew became a hurricane today.

Here is the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center:

HURRICANE MATTHEW ADVISORY NUMBER   6

NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL142016

500 PM AST THU SEP 29 2016

...HURRICANE MATTHEW HEADING TOWARD THE CENTRAL CARIBBEAN SEA...

SUMMARY OF 500 PM AST...2100 UTC...INFORMATION

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

LOCATION...14.1N 67.8W

ABOUT 150 MI...240 KM NNE OF CURACAO

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH...120 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 270 DEGREES AT 17 MPH...28 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...993 MB...29.33 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

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

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The government of Colombia has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for

the coast of Colombia from the Colombia/Venezuela border to

Riohacha.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...

* Bonaire, Curacao, and Aruba

* Colombia/Venezuela border to Riohacha

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are

possible within the watch area, in this case within the next 24 to

36 hours.

Interests elsewhere along the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia

should monitor the progress of Matthew.  Interests in Jamaica,

Hispaniola, and eastern Cuba should also monitor the progress of

Matthew.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor

products issued by your national meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK

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

At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Matthew was

located near latitude 14.1 North, longitude 67.8 West.  Matthew is

moving toward the west near 17 mph (28 km/h).  A westward to

west-southwestward motion with some decrease in forward speed

is expected during the next couple of days.

Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher

gusts.  Gradual strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from

the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185

miles (295 km). NOAA buoy 42059 has recently reported sustained

winds of 59 mph (94 km/h) with a gust to 63 mph (101 km/h).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 993 mb (29.33 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

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

WIND:  Tropical storm conditions are possible in Bonaire, Curacao,

and Aruba tonight and Friday.  Tropical storm conditions are

possible over portions of the watch in Colombia beginning Friday.

RAINFALL: Rainfall associated with Matthew will continue to diminish

across the Lesser Antilles this evening.  Isolated additional

rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are possible over the southern

Windward Islands.  Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches with isolated

higher amounts are expected over Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao through

Saturday.

SURF:  Swells generated by Matthew are expected to affect portions

of the coasts of Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao,

Venezuela, and Colombia during the next few days.  These swells are

likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Please consult products from your local weather office.

Hurricane Matthew could approach Jamaica late Sunday. Here is the “cone of uncertainty”, which shows the possible track of Matthew’s center over the next few days:

Hurricane Matthew is expected to take a sharp right turn on Saturday. Here is the spaghetti plot of Matthew’s possible track, generated by several computer models:

If the turn to the right happens later, or is not as sharp, the east coast of the U.S. could be affected by Hurricane Matthew next week.

The National Hurricane Center will post regular Hurricane Matthew updates.