Roller coaster temperature ride this week
Highs from the 60s to the 80s again by Wednesday
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Welcome to October, Minnesota.
This week brings a fast-moving jet stream waving across the state. That means cooler October coolness breezes with a few more gasps of summery temperatures.
You can feel the temperature change in the air Tuesday. Notice how the balmy 80s have been pushed well south of Minnesota on the national temperature map Tuesday afternoon.
Wednesday brings a return to southwest flow and warmer air. Highs will soar back into the 80s across southern and central Minnesota on Wednesday afternoon.
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Thursday brings cooler breezes behind another cool front.
Drought expanding
We’re still searching for meaningful rainfall across Minnesota. Last week’s drought update showed 80 percent of Minnesota is now abnormally dry or in drought. You can tell the ground is dry underfoot.
The weather maps don’t show any significant rainfall for Minnesota for at least another week. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model remains mainly dry for the next 10 days:
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s outlooks for most of October continue to favor warmer and drier than normal conditions:
We’ll need a few widespread soaking rain events to recharge soils in late October and November before the ground freezes up in December.
Stay tuned.