Intense Minnesota Storm Still Producing Strong Winds

Today was certainly a two-hand on the steering wheel day as strong winds gusting up and over 50mph in many places made for a very blustery day outside. And these winds will not diminish until later tomorrow night.

An extremely intense area of low pressure located over extreme northern Minnesota has become so strong that it has broken Minnesota’s record for the lowest barometric pressure ever. The lowest record was set in November 1998 at 28.43 inches, and as of 5pm CDT, the lowest I can find was in International Falls, MN which was standing at 28.25 inches, and the pressure could go lower still. This intense storm is producing a severe weather outbreak, with 14 tornadoes already having been reported from the central Great Lakes into the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys, and blizzard conditions over North Dakota with up to six inches or more of snow expected with winds gusting up and over 50mph. But the most widespread affects from the storm is the wind, and strong winds extend from the Northern/Central Great Plains eastward through the Great Lakes and southward to the Ohio Valley, where winds have been gusting from 40 to over 55mph. Because of the slow movement of the storm, these winds will continue through tomorrow, and winds over Greater Nebraska will once again top 40 to 50mph.

For tonight, expect partly cloudy skies, and the wind will slacken a bit later but gusts still should reach 30mph or more as lows drop into the 20’s and low 30’s.
Expect partly sunny and brisk conditions for Wednesday with highs only in the lower to middle 50’s. Winds during the afternoon will be quite strong, gusting to 55mph in places.

By Wednesday night, the Minnesota storm will begin to weaken and move northeastward in Canada, so winds will diminish during the night as lows drop into the 20’s under mostly clear skies.

Thursday will be a much more tranquil day with sunshine, light winds, and highs around 60.

Very pleasant weather is still expected Friday into the weekend with sunshine and highs in the upper 60’s to lower 70’s.

Mike