Frosty rumors up north

* Suburbs waking up to the 30s for the first time since May 16! I know, it's way too early to be tossing around the F-word. Frost in late August? Keep in mind that "meteorological summer", marking what is historically the warmest 90 days of the year - think of this as REAL summer, goes from June 1 to September 1. As far as the atmosphere is concerned true autumn really kicks off tomorrow. Gazing at the mercury in my back yard thermometer - no, better yet trying to FIND the mercury in my back yard thermometer this morning that's not hard to believe!

No, this doesn't (necessarily) mean a shorter autumn, an earlier winter, a more severe winter, or that health care reform will become the law of the land. It is what it is - a fluke, an aberration, another odd little weather gyration. We've been seeing a lot of those lately, haven't we?

No, it's not your imagination.

* 27 F. at Embarrass, MN Sunday morning - coldest in the state (possibly the coldest anywhere in the lower 48 states!) 32 degree low at International Falls, Ely, Silver Bay and Crane Lake.

* 36 F. reported Sunday morning at Little Falls and Benson, 35 at Hayward, Wisconsin.

* Frost advisory in effect north/east of Lake Mille Lacs during the early morning hours. Combination of dry, Canadian air, clear skies and diminishing winds should create ideal conditions for a rare, late-summer frost for parts of northeastern MN and northern Wisconsin.

Graphic courtesy of the Twin Cities National Weather Service.

* Monday morning record low of 40 degrees in the Twin Cities in danger of being broken.

* St. Cloud record for August 31: 33 F. set in 1974

* 62 degree "high" at Eau Claire, WI Saturday - sets a record for the coolest August 29 on record.

* 68 degree high at MSP Sunday, 69 in St. Cloud.

* Dry week shaping up - showers/T-storms remain just south and west of Minnesota through the period.

* It's early but right now next Saturday appears to be the best outdoor day of the Labor Day weekend. Scattered showers and T-storms likely Sunday and Monday, not a steady rain, but a few hours of showers possible each day.

* Highs mostly in the mid to upper 70s every day this week, near 80 by the weekend (with higher humidity levels).

Paul's Outlook


Today: Frosty start north/east of Lake Mille Lacs. Plenty of sun, a bit milder. Winds: S 5-10. High: 75

Tonight: Mostly clear, still cool. Low: 51

Tuesday: Warm sun, hard to concentrate. High: 77

Wednesday: Dim sun through high clouds, showers/storms should stay south/west of the area. High: 76

Thursday: Mostly sunny, still dry. High: 78

Friday: Great start to the holiday weekend - generous sunshine. High: 81

Saturday: Partly cloudy, possibly the nicest outdoor day. High: near 80

Sunday: More clouds, a few scattered showers/T-storms. High: 78

Monday (Labor Day): Intervals of sun, sticky, a few more showers/storms. High: 79