A monthly electronic newsletter summarizing Minnesota climate conditions and the resulting impact on water resources.

Distributed on the Wednesday following the first Monday of each month.

State Climatology Office - DNR Waters

compiled 7/6/05

WHAT HAS HAPPENED

- June 2005 monthly precipitation totals were above normal in most Minnesota communities. Like the month of May, rainfall was frequent and abundant. June monthly rainfall totals exceeding six inches were common across Minnesota, and some west central and northwestern locales reported seven to nine inches of rain for the month. 
(see: http://climate.umn.edu/cawap/monsum/monsum.asp )
- during the month of June, numerous severe thunderstorms produced hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding. On June 7 and 8, multiple waves of thunderstorms led to flooding in Wabasha, Goodhue, Rice, and Le Sueur counties. The flooding was responsible for one fatality in Goodhue County. On June 20, a powerful line of thunderstorms rolled across Minnesota, creating extensive wind damage in west central Minnesota and urban flooding in communities such as Worthington, St. Cloud, and the Twin Cities.
(see: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/flash_floods/ff050607_08.htm , http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/severe050620.htm )
- June 2005 monthly mean temperatures were one to two degrees above normal in far northern Minnesota, three to five degrees above normal in the southern two-thirds of the state. In some southern Minnesota communities, June mean monthly temperatures ranked among the 10 warmest on record. The mean monthly temperatures were elevated due in large part to a preponderance of very warm nighttime conditions. The temperature extremes for June ranged from 99 degrees at Benson and Ortonville on the 23rd, to 31 degrees at Embarrass (St. Louis county) on the 17th.
(see: http://climate.umn.edu/cawap/monsum/monsum.asp )


WHERE WE STAND NOW

- growing season precipitation totals to date (April 1 - early July) are above normal in most Minnesota counties. In some sections of west central and northwestern Minnesota, seasonal precipitation totals exceed 150 percent of normal. Seasonal precipitation totals rank above the 90th percentile for the date in many communities. In extreme northwestern Minnesota, rainfall totals for the April through June period were near the highest on record. By contrast, some areas of far southeastern Minnesota have experienced a dry growing season, with rainfall totals falling short of normal by one to four inches.
(see: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/weekmap.asp )
- as of June 28, the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) - U. S. Drought Monitor indicated that all Minnesota counties are free of drought designations. The NDMC index is a blend of science and subjectivity where intensity categories are based on six key indicators and numerous supplementary indicators.
(see: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html )
- the Minnesota Agricultural Statistics Service reports that as of July 1, the state's topsoil moisture was 0% very short, 3% short, 69% adequate, and 28% surplus. Persistently wet weather has led to declining crop conditions in northwestern Minnesota.
(see: http://www.nass.usda.gov/mn/cwmn.htm )
- the U.S. Geological Survey indicates that stream discharge values for approximately one half of Minnesota's rivers and streams rank at or above the 75th percentile for the date. Stream flows in other rivers are near median. Some of the highest flows are found in the Red River basin. Many reporting stations along the Red River and its tributaries rank above the 90th percentile for the date. Minor to moderate flooding is presently underway in some of these areas.
(see: http://water.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/dailyMainW?state=mn&map_type=weekd , http://climate.umn.edu/dow/weekly_stream_flow/stream_flow_weekly.asp )
- the potential for wildfires is rated by DNR Forestry as "Low" across all of Minnesota with the exception of Houston County. In Houston County, the fire danger rating is considered to be "Moderate".
(see: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/ )



FUTURE PROSPECTS

- the July precipitation outlook from the Climate Prediction Center indicates a tendency towards above normal conditions across Minnesota. July precipitation normals range from just over three inches in far northwestern Minnesota, to over four inches in eastern sections of the state. 
(see: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/30day , http://climate.umn.edu/img/normals/precip/precip_norm_07.htm )
- the July temperature outlook from the Climate Prediction Center indicates a tilt towards below normal temperatures for all of Minnesota. Normal July high temperatures are in the low to mid 80's. Normal July lows are around 60 degrees.
(see: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/30day , http://climate.umn.edu/img/normals/temp_norm_adj/temp_norm_adj_07.htm )
- the 90-day precipitation outlook for July through September indicates no significant tendencies away from climatological probabilities across Minnesota. The July through September temperature outlook also shows no tendencies away from climatological probabilities.
(see: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/90day/lead01/index.html )
- the National Weather Service produces long-range probabilistic river stage and discharge outlooks for the Red River, Minnesota River, and Mississippi River basins. These products are part of the National Weather Service's Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS).
(see: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ncrfc/ahps/ESPMAPS )


FROM THE AUTHOR

- none 


NOTES FROM AROUND THE STATE

- none


UPCOMING DATES OF NOTE

- July 21, Climate Prediction Center releases 30/90 day temperature and precipitation outlooks


WEB SITES FEATURED IN THIS EDITION

http://climate.umn.edu - Minnesota Climatology Working Group
http://www.drought.unl.edu - National Drought Mitigation Center
http://www.nass.usda.gov/mn/ - Minnesota Agricultural Statistics Service
http://water.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/dailyMainW?state=mn&map_type=weekd - U.S. Geological Survey
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/ - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov - Climate Prediction Center
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ncrfc/ - National Weather Service, North Central River Forecast Center


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

- none

Contributions of information and suggestions are welcome!