By DJ Kayser, filling in for Douglas:
Cooler autumn days (and nights) lead to many things this time of year — covering plants to avoid frost, air conditioners running a bit less with furnaces getting their turn at the wheel, and leaves starting to show some color. Down here close to the metro, I’ve seen a few yellow and red leaves popping in spots myself.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says that the weather this past spring and summer should hopefully lead to some brilliant color out there later this month into October. Already, their Fall Color Finder shows a good portion of northern Minnesota in 10-25% color, with some additional patches across central and southern Minnesota as well.
After the first 10 days of September were the 21st coolest on record at MSP, we’re seeing temperatures spike into the 80s over the next several days. We could even approach 90 degrees in the metro on Sunday! Our average last 90-degree reading of the season is in late August, but it has been as late as Oct. 10 in 1928. Scattered storm chances look to increase late this weekend into next week.
