No rain for the Ryder Cup

Plans for the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska began several years ago.

One thing that is out of the planner's control is the weather.

I'm sure there's a great sense of relief at Hazeltine National, because the forecast doesn't include any rain or lightning today through Sunday.

They had to deal with a bit of early morning fog today, but that is manageable.

There will be sunshine and a few patchy clouds for much of today, with highs near 70 degrees in the Twin Cities metro area.

Clouds return tonight

A low pressure system over Ohio will move north-northwestward later today and tonight, spinning some clouds back over eastern Minnesota:

The clouds will linger into Saturday, although we may have a few peeks of sun.  Far southeastern Minnesota could even see a few sprinkles Saturday morning.

Saturday highs will be mainly in the 60s:

Our average high this time of year is 66 in the Twin Cities, so Saturday's upper 60s aren't too bad.

Sunday will be sunnier than Saturday, and slightly warmer:

Much of the metro area will touch 70 Sunday afternoon.

Highs will be in the lower 70s in the Twin Cities area Monday and Tuesday. A cold front could bring us showers Tuesday night and Wednesday, and temps will be cooler for the end of the week.

Hurricane Matthew

Hurricane Matthew strengthened in the Caribbean overnight, and now has max winds of 105 mph.

Here is the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center:

BULLETIN

HURRICANE MATTHEW INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER   9A...CORRECTED

NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL142016

800 AM AST FRI SEP 30 2016

Corrected for spelling of Punta Gallinas in summary section.

...MATTHEW CONTINUING TO INTENSIFY OVER THE SOUTH-CENTRAL CARIBBEAN

SEA...

SUMMARY OF 800 AM AST...1200 UTC...INFORMATION

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

LOCATION...13.8N 70.3W

ABOUT 130 MI...210 KM NE OF PUNTA GALLINAS COLOMBIA

ABOUT 520 MI...840 KM ESE OF KINGSTON JAMAICA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...105 MPH...165 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...WSW OR 255 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...971 MB...28.67 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

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

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The government of Curacao has discontinued the Tropical Storm Watch

for Curacao.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...

* 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.  A hurricane watch may be required for Jamaica later today.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products

issued by your national meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK

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

At 800 AM AST (1200 UTC), the center of Hurricane Matthew was

located by an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft near

latitude 13.8 North, longitude 70.3 West.  Matthew is moving toward

the west-southwest near 14 mph (22 km/h).  A turn toward the west is

expected later today, and this westward motion with a decrease in

forward speed are forecast through Saturday.  A turn toward the

northwest is expected Saturday night or Sunday.

Data from the aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have

increased to near 105 mph (165 km/h) with higher gusts.  Additional

strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Matthew

could become a major hurricane later today or tonight.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from

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

miles (295 km).

The latest minimum central pressure reported by the aircraft was

971 mb (28.67 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

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

WIND:  Tropical storm conditions are possible in Aruba this

morning.  Tropical storm conditions are possible over portions

of the watch area in Colombia beginning later today.

RAINFALL:  Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches with isolated higher

amounts are expected over Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao through

Saturday.  Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches with isolated higher

amounts are expected along the coast of Colombia from the Venezuelan

border to Riohacha.  Rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches with isolated

higher amounts are expected along the coast of Venezuela from Coro

to the Colombian border.

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 now a category 2 hurricane, and is expected to strengthen today.

It may become a major (category 3) hurricane soon.

The National Hurricane Center uses what is called the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale:

Hurricane Matthew is expected to take a sharp right turn early on Sunday. 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.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.