‘Stratus quo': Season’s coldest air mass on the way
What you see is what you get. Most of Minnesota lies under a steel gray cloud blanket once again today. "Stratus quo."
Our overcast leaks a few snow showers from Ely to the North Shore, and a few rain showers in the marginally milder above freezing air mass to the south.
Yes, this is what Minnesota looks and feels like in late fall.
The season's strongest cold front sweeps south today through Minnesota. Packed pressure lines on the surface maps mean gusty northwest winds.
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The big blue "H" on the maps is the center of a chilly Canadian high pressure cell. The good news? As the center of the high drifts overhead Friday evening, winds should die down quite a bit for the little ghosties.
Two weeks ago I tossed out early numbers that suggested upper 30s as a possibility for Halloween this year. I wish the early numbers I was looking at then from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Global Forecast System were wrong for hearty trick-or -treaters.
Earlier this week, I dug up the numbers that showed this would likely be the coldest Halloween in 8 years.
It looks like the early GFS was right on the money for Halloween this year. Here's the latest pinpoint hourly microcast for Friday.
Yes, the Michelin Man may be the costume of choice this year.
60s next week?
Both the GFS and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts are hinting at a warm up in the seven to 10 day range. Timing varies on a potential warm up. The GFS suggests 60s in the Nov. 10-12 frame, but the European model is cranking out 60 degrees again as soon as next Thursday.
Stay tuned!