Fishing Opener Forecast For Sunday, May 16th
If your weekend plans keep you at the lake on Sunday. Temps will start off in the 40s with highs warming into the mid 70s across much of the state, which will be nearly +5F to +10F above average for mid May. There could perhaps be a couple T-Showers that develop here or there on Sunday, but most locations should stay dry.
Pollen Forecast
According to Pollen.com, pollen levels will high to medium to medium-high levels over the next several days, which means that if you suffer from seasonal allergies, you'll want to keep taking the allergy meds for now.
Regional Sunday Weather Outlook
High temps across the region on Sunday will be nearly +5F to +15F above average for mid May. There may be a few spotty showers or storms late in the day across the far southwestern part of the state, but much of the region will stay dry through much of the day.
Weather Outlook AM Sunday through AM Tuesday
The regional weather outlook from AM Sunday to AM Tuesday ongoing shower and thunderstorm potential across the Central US. Some of the storms could be strong to severe with locally heavy rain. Drier weather will begin to filter in early next week with warmer temps building in next week as well.
Precipitation Potential Through Sunday
The precipitation outlook through 7PM Monday shows heavier tallies across the midsection of the nation with some 1" to 3" tallies possible from Kansas to Missouri. Much lighter amounts will be found farther north.
UV Index Forecast For Sunday, May 16th
According to the National Weather Service, the UV Index in Minneapolis on Sunday is considered to HIGH, which means that a sun burn can happen in 20 minutes or less.
Sunday Weather Outlook For Minneapolis
The weather outlook for Minneapolis on Sunday bright sunshine throughout much of the day with mild temps. Winds will generally be light out of the ESE at 5-10mph.
Meteograms
The meteorgrams for Minneapolis on Sunday show temps warming from the 50s early in the day to the mid 70s in the afternoon hours. Much of the day will be dry and sunny with ESE winds.
Extended Temperature Outlook
Here's the extended temperature and weather outlook over the next 5 to 7 days in the Twin Cities. Highs on through next week will be nearly +5F to +10F above average with even readings warming into the upper 70s to lower 80s. Chances of showers and storms increase later in the week with pockets of heavier rain possible.
6 to 10 Day Temperature Outlook
According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, the 6 to 10 day temperature outlook shows warmer than average temps across the eastern two-thirds of the nation, while folks west of the Rockies will remain cooler than average.
Sensing a Hot Minnesota Summer This Year
By Paul Douglas
Lukewarm. Toasty. Stinking hot. It may be counterintuitive after an on-again, off-again spring, but my spidey senses are flashing STINKING HOT this summer for Minnesota. I'm leaning toward hot and dry vs. cool and wet for a variety of reasons.
Obligatory disclaimer to retain my meteorology degree: Anything beyond 7-10 days is more horoscope than weather forecast. But although day-to-day weather in July remains a mystery, climate models can detect larger trends months in advance. Most of NOAA's climate models are suggesting a much hotter summer for most of the USA this year. A low confidence prediction, but there it is.
Expect a dry sky Sunday and Monday, followed by a firehose of heavy showers and T-storms Tuesday into Thursday with some 1-3 inch rainfall amounts possible. Drought insurance. Temperatures approach 80F every day this week with mid-80s possible next weekend.
The days of low humidity and light jackets are coming to an end. Cue sticky evenings, curious bugs, thunderclaps and short shorts.
Extended Forecast
SUNDAY: Partly sunny and milder. Winds: S 5-10. High: 75.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy and quiet. Winds: SE 5. Low: 53.
MONDAY: Mild sunshine, breezy. Winds: SE 10-15. Wake-up: 54 High: 77.
TUESDAY: Dig out the shorts. Lukewarm sun. Winds: SE 10-15. Wake-up: 56. High: 78.
WEDNESDAY: Clouds and winds increase. Winds: SE 10-20. Wake-up: 58. High: 80.
THURSDAY: Showers and T-storms, some heavy. Winds: SE 15-25. Wake-up: 60 High: 76.
FRIDAY: Hello July, slight T-storm risk. Winds: SE 10-20. Wake-up: 64. High: 84.
SATURDAY: Some sun, stray T-storm. Winds: SW 5-10. High: 72.
This Day in Weather History
May 16th
1934: An extreme hot spell results in temperatures over 100 across parts of Minnesota, and record highs of 94 in St. Cloud and Minneapolis.
Average High/Low for Minneapolis
May 16th
Average High: 69F (Record: 94F set in 1934)
Average Low: 49F (Record: 31F set in 1980 & 1929)
Record Rainfall: 1.10" set in 191105
Record Snowfall: Trace set in 1916
Sunrise/Sunset Times for Minneapolis
May 16th
Sunrise: 5:42am
Sunset: 8:36pm
Hours of Daylight: ~14 hours & 54 minutes
Daylight GAINED since yesterday: ~ 2 minutes & 13 seconds
Daylight GAINED since Winter Solstice (December 21st): ~ 6 hours & 30 minute
Moon Phase for May 16th at Midnight
2.5 Days Before First Quarter Moon
What's in the Night Sky?
"Want to nab Mercury, the innermost planet of the solar system, sometimes called the most elusive planet? Now's the time to catch this world, as Mercury the inferior planet swings to its greatest elongation east of the setting sun on May 17, 2021 (evening of May 16 for the Americas). Look for this world in the western sky, where it's popping out shortly after sunset above the planet Venus. As evening dusk ebbs into night, Venus blazes near the western horizon, and fainter Mercury is above it, at its maximum angular separation of 22 degrees from the sun on our sky's dome. As you'll see on our chart, a 3rd evening planet, Mqrs, is also in the west after sunset now. Earth is far ahead of Mars in orbit now, and the planet – though still reddish to the eye – isn't very bright. It's not as noticeable as Mercury or Venus. Plus you might have to wait to see it until Mercury and Venus have set … that is, until the sky is dark. Still, if you draw a line approximately between Mercury and Venus, that line will point to Mars' location in the sky after sunset. What's more, on May 16, the lighted face of the moon points toward Mars. Presently, Mars is only about 1/40th as bright as it was when Earth passed between Mars and the sun in October 2020. Even so, Mars is visible with the unaided eye in a dark sky."
National High Temps Sunday
The weather outlook on Sunday shows below average temps in the Southern Plains, while folks across the northern tier of the nation will remain warmer than average.
National Weather Outlook
Here's the national weather outlook through Monday, which shows widespread showers and storms developing in the Central US. Some of the storms could be strong to severe with locally heavy rains.
Severe Weather Outlook For Sunday
According to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center, there is a risk of severe thunderstorms across the Front Range of the Rockies and into the Plains. Some of the storms could produce large hail, damaging winds and even tornadoes.
Severe Weather Outlook For Monday
There is also a risk of strong to severe storms in some of the same areas on Monday. Keep in mind that Flash flooding will also be a possibility with some of these storms.
Extended Precipitation Outlook
According to NOAA's Weather Prediction Center several inches of rain maybe possible over the next 5 to 7 day across the Central and Southern US. Some locations could see 3" to 6" of rain, which could lead to flash flooding.
Climate Stories
"Another dangerous fire season is looming in the Western U.S., and the drought-stricken region is headed for a water crisis"
"Just about every indicator of drought is flashing red across the western U.S. after a dry winter and warm early spring. The snowpack is at less than half of normal in much of the region. Reservoirs are being drawn down, river levels are dropping and soils are drying out. It's only May, and states are already considering water use restrictions to make the supply last longer. California's governor declared a drought emergency in 41 of 58 counties. In Utah, irrigation water providers are increasing fines for overuse. Some Idaho ranchers are talking about selling off livestock because rivers and reservoirs they rely on are dangerously low and irrigation demand for farms is only just beginning. Scientists are also closely watching the impact that the rapid warming and drying is having on trees, worried that water stress could lead to widespread tree deaths. Dead and drying vegetation means more fuel for what is already expected to be another dangerous fire season. U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters on May 13, 2021, that federal fire officials had warned them to prepare for an extremely active fire year. "We used to call it fire season, but wildland fires now extend throughout the entire year, burning hotter and growing more catastrophic in drier conditions due to climate change," Vilsack said."
See more from The Conversation HERE:
"It's Raining Oil in St. Croix for the Second Time This Year"
"A refinery on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands has shut down temporarily after oil rained down on surrounding residents' homes and cisterns used to collect drinking water. Astonishingly enough, this nightmarish situation isn't even new; it's just the most recent incident in the past three months and has added to the growing outcry from the community about the safety and future of the private equity-owned facility. Residents of St. Croix have been subject to some truly horrendous conditions since the Limetree Bay facility restarted its operations in February. Noxious fumes from the refinery forced three schools to close just last week, following what the refinery said was maintenance being conducted on its coker unit; some schools also closed in April after the refinery began emitting excess hydrogen sulfide, which also caused headaches and other health impacts for people living nearby. In February, a misfiring valve rained oil residue on more than 130 homes in the area, just three days after the refinery reopened. "When it rains, it doesn't wash out," resident Armando Muñoz told the Washington Post in April of the oil. "It's in all the plants we have, avocado trees, and breadfruit trees, and fruit trees, and regular household plants."
"The most intense firestorms in the world"
"When a wildfire reaches epic proportions, it changes everything around it – even creating its own weather. Scientists around the world are racing against time to understand them. One afternoon in June 2017, villagers in Pedrógão Grande, a small municipality in central Portugal, saw a column of smoke about 1m (3ft) wide approaching from several miles away to the north. Firefighters were on the scene within minutes, but by that point the wind speed around the fire had accelerated and the smoke plume had expanded to nearly a kilometre (0.6 miles) wide. As the afternoon went on, the fire gained speed and heat rapidly, and the plume of smoke grew wider and taller until a dark, thunderous cloud started to form, high up in the atmosphere. Far from being a welcome sign of rain, this was a highly unusual kind of thundercloud. Over in Washington DC, Mike Fromm, a meteorologist at the US Naval Research Laboratory who collaborates with Nasa, was tipped off by an Australian scientist about the news emerging from Portugal."
