St. Cloud, MN Weather Forecast

Since we have generally quiet and dry weather, except for a few afternoon sprinkles both this afternoon and Thursday afternoon, through the weekend, I'm going to spend some time on recent stories that will play a role in Minnesota weather down the road.

Rainfall Actually Producing Flooding in Arrowhead 

The final rainfall totals for the early week storm show that most of Minnesota (except northwestern and southeastern Minnesota) picked up at least an inch (dark green when you set the NWS Water Prediction Service Minnesota precipitation map to yesterday's date and last 3 days). Much of central Minnesota had more than 2 inches (yellow), near the average for the entire month of April.

Much of Minnesota badly needed the rain, but conditions in the Arrowhead are a lot different. Streams and lakes in north central and northeastern Minnesota are above average (light blue on the Minnesota DNR streamflow map). Part of the reason is much higher snowfall during the cold season (4-8 feet, red or dark red on the NWS NOHRSC national gridded snowfall analysis, setting the duration to season). Lake and Cook Counties have flood advisories or warnings in effect until this evening.

The interior portion of northern Minnesota still hasn't had green up, so there will be the potential for high wildfire danger after the surface water from the early week rain dries out.

...But Looking Forward to Minnesota Waterfalls This Spring

It will also lead to a spectacular spring at all of the waterfall state parks in northeastern Minnesota.

Minnesota One of Worst States for Skin Cancer

Ka Vang of the Minnesota Star Tribune recently wrote a column about the high incident of melanoma, skin cancer, in Minnesota. Recent statistics show that Minnesota has either the second or the third highest number of incidents of skin cancer in the US. Vang noted several possible reasons, including having a number of natives with very fair skin.

Still, there is lack of awareness that tanning can lead to these problems. During Minnesota Severe Weather Awareness Week, there was one day devoted to heat related issues with only one line about sunburn. Problems include include use of tanning beds to get a 'foundation tan' and early season sun exposure without using sun block. The full National Weather Service safety page on outdoor exposure to ultraviolet rays is here. And, the American Cancer Society notes that there is no such thing as a safe tan.

Ice Out Getting to Larger Central Minnesota Lakes

And with the fishing opener a bit more than two weeks away, the larger lakes in central Minnesota (including Leech and Cass Lake) have had ice out during the past week. Progress for the Boundary Waters Lakes has been slower. The weather over the next week will slow the ice out, since we will see low temperatures below freezing in much of northern and central Minnesota through the weekend.