HydroClim Minnesota - July 2010
A monthly electronic newsletter summarizing Minnesota's climate conditions and the resulting impact on water resources. Distributed on the Wednesday following the first Monday of each month.
State Climatology Office - DNR Waters
compiled: July 7, 2010
What happened in June:
- June 2010 was a wet and stormy month across much of Minnesota. The month brought frequent, and often heavy, rainfall to many locales. June rainfall totals topped six inches in most communities south of a line from Canby to Moose Lake. June rainfall exceeded eight inches in some southern counties. In portions of Winona and Houston counties, more than ten inches of rain fell during June. Monthly totals in southern Minnesota surpassed historical averages by at least two inches. In a few counties, the monthly rainfall totals doubled the historical June average of four inches. Comparing monthly rainfall totals with previous years reveals that June precipitation ranked above the 90th percentile over much of the southern one-third of Minnesota, and ranked above the 95th percentile in many locales. In addition to large totals, June rainfall was also unusually frequent in southern Minnesota. The Rochester Airport reported 20 days with measureable precipitation. This is the greatest number of June days with measureable rainfall in Rochester's historical record.
[see: June 2010 Climate Summary Table | Wet June - 2010] - Large-scale outbreaks of severe weather occurred on June 17, June 25, and June 26. Tornadoes, hail, damaging winds, and flooding rains were reported in many communities on these days.
[see: Deadly Tornadoes: June 17 | Severe Storms and Tornadoes: June 25-26] - Monthly mean temperatures for June 2010 were near to slightly above the historical average across southern and western Minnesota. June temperatures for some northern Minnesota counties were somewhat below average. Extreme temperature values for June ranged from a high of 94 degrees at Gaylord and Redwood Falls on the 22nd, to a low of 31 degrees at Brimson and Embarrass on the 29th. For only the fourth time in history, International Falls reported a June with no temperatures of 80 degrees or higher.
[see: June 2010 Climate Summary Table]
Where we stand now:
- The late winter and most of the spring brought unusually warm temperatures and scant seasonal precipitation totals in many Minnesota locales. Precipitation totals since mid-March are less than eight inches for much of northeastern Minnesota and portions of west central Minnesota, more than two inches short of average. In these communities, mid-March through early-July precipitation totals rank below the 20th percentile when compared to previous years for the same period. In sharp contrast to the dry spring, June and early July was very wet across much of the southern one-half of Minnesota and isolated sections of northwestern and north central Minnesota. Growing season (beginning April 1) precipitation totals to-date are highly variable across the state. An example of this spatial variation is in St. Louis County where growing season precipitation totals rank very high in the historical distribution in northern sections of the county, but rank among the driest of record in east central portions of the county.
[see: Weekly and Seasonal Precipitation Maps | Dry Spring - 2010 | Wet June - 2010] - The U. S. Drought Monitor, released on July 1, depicts all of Cook County and portions of Lake County as undergoing Severe drought. Other northeastern Minnesota counties are considered to be under the influence of Moderate drought. A small section of east central Minnesota is considered by be Abnormally Dry. The situation in east central Minnesota is due to a prolonged period of below-average precipitation that began in June of 2008. The rest of Minnesota is without drought designation. The U. S. Drought Monitor index is a blend of science and subjectivity where drought categories (Moderate, Severe, etc) are based on several indicators.
[see: U.S. Drought Monitor] - The U.S. Geological Survey reports that stream discharge values in northeastern Minnesota watersheds are below the 5th percentile when compared with historical data for the date. Stream levels are very high in the Minnesota River basin and near median elsewhere.
[see: USGS Streamflow | DNR Streamflow] - The Lake Superior water level is down five inches from last year at this time and remains below the long-term average. Water levels on many northern, central, and east central lakes are below average. Water levels on some larger lakes and wetlands complexes in east central Minnesota lakes remain exceptionally low. White Bear Lake, on the Ramsey/Washington county border, is near its all-time record low level.
[see: Corps of Engineers Great Lakes Water Levels | White Bear Lake Water Level] - As of July 4, the Minnesota Agricultural Statistics Service reports that topsoil moisture was 0% Very Short, 2% Short, 66% Adequate, and 32% Surplus.
[see: Agricultural Statistics Service Crop Progress and Condition | U. of M. Southwest Research Center (Lamberton) Soil Moisture] - The potential for wildfires is currently rated by DNR Forestry as Low throughout Minnesota.
[see: Fire Danger Rating Map]
Future prospects:
- The July precipitation outlook shows no significant tendencies away from historical climatological probabilities in most Minnesota locales. The July outlook leans towards above-normal rainfall in far southeastern Minnesota. July precipitation normals range from just over three inches in far northwestern Minnesota to over four inches in eastern sections of the state.
[see: Climate Prediction Center 30-day Outlook | July Precipitation Normal Map] - The July temperature outlook shows no significant tendencies away from historical climatological probabilities. Normal July high temperatures are in the low to mid-80s. Normal July lows are around 60 degrees. July is the warmest month of the year in Minnesota.
[see: Climate Prediction Center 30-day Outlook | July Temperature Normal Map] - The 90-day precipitation outlook for July through September shows no significant tendencies away from historical climatological probabilities. The July through September temperature projection also offers equal chances of above-normal, near-normal, and below-normal conditions in most Minnesota locations. There is a slight tilt towards below-normal temperatures in far southwestern Minnesota for the 90-day period.
[see: Climate Prediction Center 90-day Outlook] - The National Weather Service produces long-range probabilistic river stage and discharge outlooks for the Red River, Minnesota River, and Mississippi River basins. These products are part of the National Weather Service's Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS).
[see: National Weather Service North Central River Forecast Center]
From the author:
- None
Notes from around the state:
- None
Upcoming dates of note:
- July 15: National Weather Service releases 30/90 day temperature and precipitation outlooks
- September 16: Kuehnast Lecture
Web sites featured in this edition:
- http://climate.umn.edu - Minnesota Climatology Working Group, Minnesota DNR Waters and U of M Dept. of Soil, Water, and Climate
- http://www.drought.unl.edu - National Drought Mitigation Center
- http://water.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/dailyMainW?state=mn&map_type=weekd - U.S. Geological Survey
- http://mndnr.gov/waters - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Waters
- http://www.lre.usace.army.mil - US Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District
- http://www.nass.usda.gov - USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
- http://swroc.cfans.umn.edu - University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center, Lamberton
- http://mndnr.gov/forestry - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry
- http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov - National Weather Service, Climate Prediction Center
- http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ncrfc - National Weather Service, North Central River Forecast Center
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