The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th, but did you know that the typical peak is September 10th? This is when the Atlantic Basin has had the most hurricanes and named storms since records began. This is also when weather conditions are at optimal levels for these types of storms.

Here's a map of all the tropical cyclone points of origin and their tracks from September 11th to the 20th from 1851 to 2015. As you can see, it has historically been a very active time period with tropical systems developing just about anywhere in the basin.

Here's a look at Hurricane Lee from Saturday, which was still a major storm with sustained winds exceeding 110mph. At one point early Friday morning, Lee was a major category 5 storm with sustained winds of 165mph and a central pressure down to 924mb.

According to NOAA's NHC, the track for Lee keeps it as a major hurricane through most of next week as it steers north and east of any major land masses in the Caribbean and the western Atlantic. However, we'll have to keep a close eye on Bermuda as Lee approaches the island next weekend. Stay tuned...

It has been a hot summer with (32) days with highs at 90F degrees or warmer. This is the 6th most number of 90F degree days on record, the most recent being 1988 when there were 44 days.

Here's a list of all the 90F degree days that we've seen so far this year. The hottest days, were back to back on August 22nd and 23rd, when the MSP hit 98F and heat index values peaking around 110F to 120F around the metro. We also hit 98F on September 4th, but the dewpoint wasn't has high, so the heat index was an intense. Uffda!

Looking at the last 30 years, the average number of 90F days at the MSP Airport is (14). July is the hottest month with an average of (6) 90F days. This year we've had (23) 90F days, last year we had (18) days in the 90s and in 2021 there were (27) days in the 90s. The most number of 90F days in any single year was (44) set in 1988.

Drought continues and expanded from last week with a little more than 1% of the state in an Exceptional drought. Nearly 16% of the state is now in an Extreme drought, while 40% of the state is in a Severe drought, which includes much of the Twin Cities metro. 3 months ago, 72% of the state was considered abnormally dry, with nearly 12% in a moderate drought.

The weather outlook on Wednesday shows temperatures warming into the 60s and 70s across the state, which will be a little below average for this time of the year. There may be a few isolated showers developing across the far southeastern part of Minnesota, but much of the state will be dry with more sunshine through the day.

The weather outlook for the Twin Cities on Sunday, September 10th will be pretty comfortable with highs only warming into the lower 70s, which will be a little below average for this time of the year. There could be a few isolated showers early, but much of the day will be dry with lingering low clouds. Dewpoints will also be more comfortable through the day as they fall through the lower 50s.

Weather conditions for Minneapolis on Sunday will be drier and quieter than it was on Saturday. Temps will start in the lower 50s in the morning and will warm into the lower 70s in the afternoon. Lingering low clouds will be in place with northerly winds around 10mph to 15mph.

The 5 day temperature outlook for Minneapolis will be a little cooler than average through midweek with temps only warming into the 60s and lower 70s, which will be more October-like and certainly fall-like.

The 7 day extended weather outlook through the 2nd full week of September looks fairly comfortable with highs in the 60s and 70s with mostly dry conditions. It might be a little chilly at times during the morning hours, but the afternoons will be fairly comfortable

According to NOAA's National Blend of Models, temperatures over the next several days will be quite a bit nicer with readings generally in the 70s through mid month. A few days may dip into the 60s with overnight lows into the 40s, which will feel a little like October at times.

The weather outlook in the Midwest through next weekend looks mostly dry through the Midwest. Most of the rainfall will be found across the Southern and Eastern US. Keep an eye on Lee in the Atlantic, which will likely impact eastern Canada next weekend.

According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, the 8 to 14 day temperature outlook shows Warmer than average temperatures across much of the Nation. Near normal temps will be in place across the Ohio Valley.

According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center it'll be a little quieter along the norther tier of the nation with pockets or more active weather across the Southern US.

A familiar radio voice will kick off the regular Vikings season with a thunderous "Boom" at noon over local airwaves. We're getting reports of moldy cheese and purple envy in western Wisconsin. Skol!

Don't forget about the Twins. First place in the AL Central. First pitch at 1:10pm today at Target Field. Minneapolis will be hopping this afternoon, but a good day to be a Minnesota sports fan!

By the way, today is the official peak of the Atlantic Hurricane season. Hurricane Lee reached category 5 strength with peak winds of 165mph early Friday morning. This storm will make a close encounter with Bermuda next weekend as a potential hurricane.

Closer to home, another dry stretch settles in with early October-like temps through midweek.

It won't be long until leaf-peeping season arrives.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy and quiet. Winds: NNE 5-10. Low: 54.

MONDAY: Partly cloudy and comfy. Winds: N 5-10. High: 70.

TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Feels like early October. Winds: ENE 5-15. Wake-up: 51. High: 66.

WEDNESDAY: Extra layers needed early. Bright PM. Winds: SSE 10-15. Wake-up: 46. High 69.

THURSDAY: Increasing clouds. Late day rumble? Winds: SSW 10. Wake-up: 52. High 76.

SATURDAY: Isolated showers or storms. Winds: NNW 5-10. Wake-up: 57. High: 77.

September 10th

2002: A late-season tornado strikes Albertville just after midnight .According to a damage survey conducted by NWS personnel, it touched down on the eastern edge of Cedar Creek Golf Course, then it moved straight east and dissipated in a city park just west of the railroad tracks. It completely tore the roof off of one home. Roofs were partially off a number of other homes, many attached garages collapsed, and a couple of houses were rotated on their foundation. About 20 homes were damaged, nine of which sustained significant damage.

1986: 3 inch hail falls in Watonwan County.

1947: Downpours fall across the Iron Range. Hibbing receives 8.6 inches in three hours.

1910: The shortest growing season on record in Duluth ends, with frost free days from June 14 to September 10 (87 days). Normally the frost-free season is 143 days.

September 10th

Average High: 75F (Record: 104F set in 1931)

Average Low: 57F (Record: 37F set in 1917)

Record Rainfall: 2.08" set in 1913

September 10th

Sunrise: 6:45am

Sunset: 7:34pm

Hours of Daylight: ~12 hours & 48 minutes

Daylight LOST since yesterday: 3 Minutes & 00 Seconds

3.8 Days Before New Moon

Temperatures on Wednesday will still be well above average for much of the nation with widespread likely from the Mid-Atlantic States to the Northeast and also across the Southern US.

The weather outlook on Wednesday will be unsettled along and east of the Mississippi River Valley, some of which could be strong to severe with locally heavy rainfall.

The weather outlook through Monday looks a little more unsettled across the Southern Plains through the Great Lakes with pockets of heavy rainfall.

The extended precipitation outlook shows areas of heavy rainfall across the Central and Southern Plains. There will also be areas of heavy rain across the Northeast, but the Western US will remain quite dry.

See more from NPR HERE:

"Three years into living off-grid, I've learned a few lessons about solar the hard way. The motivation to add a solar power system to your home is usually simple: Reduce your power bill or even earn money from your utility. Maybe you add some solar batteries to have a backup in case of an extended outage. But if there's no grid at your location and solar is your primary source of energy, you have a different set of motivations and concerns, including some that force you to look at basic facts in a whole new light. My wife and I purchased a not-quite-finished off-grid home about a month into the COVID-19 lockdown and immediately went to work installing half a dozen solar panels. They were initially connected to — believe it or not — a pair of huge 6-volt golf cart batteries, each weighing 83 pounds and wired together in series to create a 12-volt system, which generates plenty of 120-volt alternating current via a large inverter. It's a modest system for our modest home."

See more from CNet HERE:

"This summer, daytime temperatures topped 100 degrees for a full month in Phoenix. In northwest China, temperatures soared above 125 degrees. Southern Europe withstood waves of 100-plus degree days. Wrapped together, heat waves illustrate a sobering reality: human-driven climate change is making extreme heat worse worldwide. But health-threatening heat isn't the only outcome of record-breaking weather: air pollution spikes when the temperatures rise according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization. "Climate change and air quality cannot be treated separately. They go hand in hand and must be tackled together to break this vicious cycle," WMO Secretary General Petteri Taalas said in a press release. The new report, which focuses on 2022, highlights the growing risk of air pollution connected to wildfires. Hotter temperatures increase the risk of large, hot-burning fires, which can pump enormous plumes of smoke into the air. That smoke causes health problems near the fire but also for people thousands of miles downwind."

See more from NPR HERE: