Paul Douglas

@pdouglasweather.bsky.social

Minnesota meteorologist and serial entrepreneur, tracking climate-fueled weather extremes. Author: “Caring For Creation” and “A Kid’s Guide to Saving the Planet”

100F yesterday in Hallock, Minnesota. Highs near 90F into Wednesday but models show a cooler, wetter pattern returns by late week. 15-day total rainfall predictions are impressive. In the meantime high risk of wildfires into midweek with Red Flag Warning for most of the state. More crazy swings

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First potential (widespread) severe T-storm outbreak possible Monday of next week. That's still pretty far out and confidence level is low to moderate, but surges of 70s may leave the atmosphere irritable and capable of some atmospheric rocking and rolling.

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A rock 'n roll afternoon and evening is shaping up with a significant severe T-storm threat, especially MSP to the Iowa border. Main threat is large hail, but an isolated tornado and 1-3" rains possible with this squall line. HRRR loop from noon to 7pm. Take it easy out there

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No snow, but plenty of rain on the way. ECMWF (European model) prints out 2" rains for much of Minnesota over the next 15 days. Coming at a good time for spring planting. Persistent drought appears to be slowly fading.

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At least 13 radiosonde (weather balloon) sites reducing or eliminating daily launches due to staffing cuts at local NWS offices. Weather balloon data is the second most important source of weather model "fuel" (behind satellite data). Accuracy will suffer. What can possibly go wrong

Chris Vagasky@coweatherman.bsky.social · last yr.

Updates to the NWS Upper Air Network: As of April 3, Bethel, AK, moved to once-per-day (12 UTC) balloon launches. I'm told that McGrath, AK, could suspend flights in May, while Yakutat, King Salmon, and Annette Island, AK, could go to one flight per day in the next couple months.

Not an April Fool's joke: wet snow later today and tonight, maybe 1-3" metro, with (very) plowable amounts over much of MN. Changeover to rain at MSP Wednesday will keep snowfall amounts down in the Twin Cities. A few 60s next week? Prince was right: sometimes it snows in April

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No cause for panic, but a cruel April Fool's joke is brewing, maybe an inch or 2 of slush for the metro area tonight (it'll melt) with plowable amounts north of MSP. ECMWF shows fairly consistent 50s by the second week of April. Spring in Minnesota is more theory than fact

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Not in the habit of recommending TV shows but watch this on Netflix. Amazing footage. The 2011 EF-5 tornado that hit Joplin, MO was an EF-5; 1-2 miles wide. It claimed 181 lives. Another reminder of how critical the local National Weather Service meteorologists who issue warnings are

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ECMWF (European model) is far from perfect, but it often picks up on trends before other models. MSP metro will get brushed by slush Wednesday with heavier amounts south. Not exactly Snowmageddon Warm signal continues for late March with more 60s. Early spring? Hey, a guy can dream...

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30% threat of an EF2-EF5 tornado within 25 miles of any point from Jackson, MS to Birmingham, AL. Very concerned about large, violent long-track tornadoes later today. While 3-8" snow falls from Willmar to Park Rapids and Wadena. Cooler outlook but nothing polar. After record 75F Friday at MSP

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Today's record high at MSP is 73F in 2012. Pretty sure we'll break that. Temps more typical of late May. Strong T-storms arrive this evening, a few packing hail and high winds. On backside of the storm a few inches of slush Hutchinson to Brainerd Lakes Saturday PM Crowded House: 4 seasons in 1 day

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Powerful storm arriving Friday/Saturday with temperatures aloft warm enough for mostly rain MSP metro, but potentially plowable snow western counties. Slight severe T-storm risk Friday; ECMWF more aggressive than GFS with warm fronts in coming weeks but spring is sure trying!

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Meteorological spring is here! Old Man Winter: hold my beer. Rain changes to snow this evening, with 4-8" possible before snow tapers midday Wednesday; maybe 10" of snow in a few spots. Winter Storm Warnings with Blizzard Warnings south of MSP. Wednesday travel will be a mess

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50s today, rain tomorrow changes over to wet snow Tuesday night, with snow continuing through midday Wednesday. Should be plowable, especially south/east of MSP, where a Winter Storm Watch is posted Snow + winds gusting over 40 mph Wednesday AM should make for a fun commute 👍

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The US experiences more severe weather than any nation on Earth. NOAA has been up to the task (death tolls have been falling due to timely warnings and collaboration with local meteorologists). Firing 800-1000 experts from NOAA is a huge step backwards. This isn't efficiency. It's insanity. FAFO

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"Muddy Vortex" shaping up with light rain later today into Wednesday and milder than average temperatures into at least mid-March. At least the metro may have seen the last subzero lows of winter. Both GFS and ECMWF show a 60-degree spike in 2 weeks. Early spring anyone?

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1-3" powder from this afternoon into early Saturday. No big deal. Followed by a 4-day slow dance with the Polar Vortex: Monday and Tuesday the coldest days in Minnesota. All models bring milder, Pacific air back into town last week of February with 30s, shot at 40+ This too shall pass 💔

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Blizzard Warnings for parts of Louisiana with half a foot predicted for NOLA and 3-4" into the Florida Panhandle. This will be an historic snowfall for the Gulf Coast. There are no plows - they will pretty much wait for the snow to melt (which happens later this week)

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Today is the coldest day for Minnesota with average temperatures returning by midweek. Dry, Siberian air has shoved the storm track along the Gulf Coast, and 2-5"+ of snow may shut down Houston and New Orleans on Tuesday with a couple inches of snow/ice into the FL Panhandle #weatherwhiplash

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All this cold air is pushing the storm track WAY south. The Gulf Coast will see a rare snowstorm late Monday into Wednesday morning, maybe 3-6" snow for Houston and New Orleans with 2-4" snow/ice for Florida Panhandle and 2-5" Savannah and Myrtle Beach. It'll melt, but wow 😳

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Longest stretch of subzero weather since December 2022 (62 hours at MSP) is shaping up with windchills of -35F Sunday and Monday. Pipe-rupturing cold? Gulf coast may see accumulating snow by Tuesday 😳 Consider cheking in on friends/family living alone to make sure their homes are staying warm

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