Tri-County News

Mostly cloudy and cooler, with chances of rain


Mark Anthony Meteorologist

Fall officially arrived this past Monday. The autumnal equinox took place in the Northern Hemisphere at 2:50 a.m. CDT our time.

The weather for the first day of fall felt more like late July or early August rather than the third week of September. High temperatures climbed into the mid- to upper-70s across much of the region Monday.

Tuesday was also very mild with highs generally in the low- to mid-70s. Clouds were on the increase as a weak weather disturbance set up across the state.

On the backside of this system, it will turn cooler and windy on Wednesday. High temperatures are expected to reach only into the lower 60s. Parts of northern Minnesota could see highs only in the 50s. The winds will gust to 30 mph Wednesday making for a very windy Wednesday.

If you think this sounds chilly, by this weekend high temperatures in parts of the state might only reach into the upper-40s and lower-50s. Rain chances will return by this Sunday as well.

By the way, the fall colors are peaking in northern Minnesota with southern Minnesota just starting to reach their fall colors. That will certainly change this week with the cooler temps.

Happy autumn everyone.

Weather history: On this date in 1998 severe weather moved across parts of central and west central Minnesota. According to the National Weather Services, “wind gusts to 78 mph (were) reported at the Staples Municipal Airport.” Trees were reportedly “blown down in the city of Staples.”

Weather facts: Damaging winds are often called “straight-line winds to differentiate from the damage they cause from tornado damage.”

MN AT A GLANCE:

Moorhead Low 50 High 62

Duluth Low 48 High 60

Central Minn. Low 51 High 63

Twin Cities Low 55 High 66

Marshall Low 54 High 67

Rochester Low 54 High 66

Wednesday: Partly cloudy and windy. High 63 Low 45 Winds: WNW 20-30 mph Prec. None

Today’s sunrise: 7:13 a.m.

Today’s sunset: 7:12 p.m.

Normal High: 65

Normal Low: 44

It will be a windy day Wednesday. We could see some gusts to 30 mph at times. Rain chances will return Thursday into Friday. Cooler temps are projected on the backside of this system by Saturday with highs only in the upper-50s expected.

Thursday: Partly to mostly cloudy, 40% chance of showers High 66 Low 56 Wind: SSW 10-20 mph Prec. .10”-.30”

Friday: Partly to mostly cloudy, 40% chance of showers. High 61 Low 43 Wind: W 10-20 mph Prec. Trace-.20”

Saturday: Partly cloudy and cooler. High 58 Low 49 Wind: NNW 10-20 mph Prec. None

Sunday: Mostly cloudy to cloudy, 40% chance of rain. High 59 Low 56 Wind: ESE 10-15 mph Prec. .10”-.30.”

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