All Time Record Rainfall in St. Louis on Tuesday

A few PM showers are possible today with a cooler, more comfortable breeze tomorrow and Friday. Sweaty sunshine returns into the first week of August. Check the blog for more. -Todd Nelson

July 27, 2022 at 3:32AM
Sunset on Monday (@TNelsonWX/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Wettest Day in St. Louis, MO History

"A historic morning in the St. Louis area. Our hearts are with all of those affected from this catastrophic flooding. Here are some facts that put this rainfall into historical perspective. #mowx #stlwx"

Wettest Day in St. Louis History (NWS St. Louis/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Wettest Day in St. Louis History (NWS St. Louis/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

14 Days With Temps at 90F or Warmer This Summer

Despite record 'cooler' days, the Twin Cities has had a HOT summer so far. In fact, there have been 14 days with temps at 90F or warmer. The hottest day was June 20th, when the mercury jumped to 101F! Keep in mind that we typically see around 13 days with highs in the 90s or warmer. The most was back in 1988 when the Twin Cities recorded 44 days! More recently in 2012, the metro saw 31 days in the 90s or higher.

Days With Temps at 90F or Warmer This Summer (NWS/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

8th Warmest Summer on Record

Since June 1st, the average temperature in the Twin Cities has been the 8th warmest on record. Note that last summer (through July 25th) it had been the 4th driest and 8th warmest summer on record.

8th Warmest Summer on Record at MSP (NWS/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

4th Driest Summer on Record at MSP

Prior to July 26th, here's how much rain has fallen across the region so far this summer (since June 1st). Note that the Twin Cities has seen only 2.23". This is more than -5.79" below average and is the 4th driest starts to any Summer on record!

Rain So Far This Summer (Praedictix/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Rainfall So Far This Summer (Praedictix/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Minnesota Drought Update

Here's the latest drought update across Minnesota. Thanks to mostly dry weather over the last few weeks, parts of Central Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, are now under severe and moderate drought conditions.

Minnesota Drought Update (US Drought Monitor/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Weather Outlook Ahead

Here's the weather outlook from AM Wednesday to AM Tuesday. After a few storms on Tuesday, there doesn't appear to be much in terms of heavy rain chances through the rest of the week. There may be a late day storm threat on Sunday into early Monday with summertime heat returning into early August.

Weather Outlook Through Next Wednesday (Tropical Tidbits/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Weather Outlook on Wednesday

The weather outlook for Wednesday shows temps warming into the 70s & 80s across the region with some locations in the Arrowhead only warming into the 60s. Note that these readings will generally be below average for late July. There will also be isolated showers and storms popping up through the day as well.

Wednesday Weather Outlook (Praedictix/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Highs From Average on Wednesday (Praedictix/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Weather Outlook Wednesday

The weather outlook for Minneapolis on Wednesday shows temps warming to near 80F with spotty showers and storms possible. It won't be a complete washout but there will be random t-showers possible through the PM hours.

Wednesday Weather Outlook For Minneapolis (Praedictix/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Meteograms for Minneapolis

The hourly temps for Minneapolis on Wednesday shows temperatures starting in the low/mid 60s and warming to nearly 80F by the afternoon. Spotty t-showers will be possible in the afternoon. South to southwesterly winds will be a bit breezy at times with gusts approaching 20mph in the afternoon. West to northwesterly winds will be gusty at times with some 25mph winds possible.

Hourly Temps & Sky Conditions For Minneapolis on Wednesday (Praedictix/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Hourly Wind Gusts & Direction For Minneapolis on Wednesday (Praedictix/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Extended Temperature Outlook For Minneapolis

The extended temperature outlook for Minneapolis shows below average temperatures continuing through the last full week of July. However, the weekend will be hot again as readings approaching 90F once again.

5 Day Temperature Outlook For Minneapolis (Praedictix/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Extended Weather Outlook For Minneapolis

The extended weather outlook over the next 7 days shows at or slightly below average temperatures through the rest of the week. However, temps spike up to near 90F again this weekend with chances of showers and storms late weekend into early next week.

7 Day Weather Outlook For Minneapolis (Praedictix/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Extended Temperature Outlook For Minneapolis

According to the NBM & ECMWF extended temperature outlook, temps will remain on the 'cooler' side over the next few days, but will warm into the 90s again by early August.

ECMWF Extended Temperature Outlook For Minneapolis (Praedictix/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
NBM Extended Temperature Outlook For Minneapolis (Praedictix/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

8 to 14 Day Temperature Outlook

According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, the 8 to 14 day temperature outlook shows above average temps east of the Rockies and especially in the Central US. Get ready for another round of heat!

8 to 14 Day Temperature Outlook (NOAA CPC/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

8 to 14 Day Precipitation Outlook

According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, the 8 to 14 Day precipitation outlook shows more active weather in place in the Western US, but dry weather will settle in across the Central US once again.

8 to 14 Day Precipitation Outlook (NOAA CPC/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

All Time Record Rainfall in St. Louis Yesterday
By Todd Nelson, filling in for Douglas.

Through 7AM Tuesday, St. Louis, MO measured more than 8 inches of rainfall which made it the all time daily record. The old record was 6.85 inches on August 20th, 1915 from the remnants of the 1915 Galveston Hurricane. By the end of the day Tuesday, some locations around St. Louis had seen more than 1 foot of rainfall with widespread flooding. According to NOAA, this was a 1 in 1000 year event!

Recent studies have shown that heavy precipitation events have not only become more common since the 1950s, but have produced heavier rainfall amounts. Some of the strongest increases in precipitation events have been located in the Midwest and the Northeast.

With that being said, the Twin Cities was sitting at its 4th driest and 8th warmest start to summer. Severe drought conditions have set up in the southern metro with moderate drought expanding across much of the rest of the metro.

A few PM showers are possible today with a cooler, more comfortable breeze tomorrow and Friday. Sweaty sunshine returns into the first week of August.

Extended Forecast

WEDNESDAY: Isolated PM Rumble. Winds: WNW 5-10. High: 82.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Showers fade early, then clearing. Winds: WNW 5-10. Low: 61.

THURSDAY: Fresh breeze. Few showers up north. Winds: NW 7-12. High: 76.

FRIDAY: Sunny and still quite nice. Winds: NNW 5-10. Wake-up: 60. High: 80.

SATURDAY: South wind kicks in. Heating up! Winds: SSE 10-15. Wake-up: 62. High: 88.

SUNDAY: Warm & sticky. Chance of PM storms. Winds: SSW 10-20. Wake-up: 69. High: 89.

MONDAY: Lingering am t-shower. PM clearing. Winds: NNE 5-10. Wake-up: 69. High: 88.

TUESDAY: Sweaty sunshine. Feels like a sauna. Winds: S 10-20. Wake-up: 70. High: 92.

This Day in Weather History

July 27th

1910: Giant hailstones fall in Todd and Wadena Counties. One stone weighed in at 5 pounds.

Average High/Low for Minneapolis

July 27th

Average High: 83F (Record: 104F set in 1931)

Average Low: 65F (Record: 49F set in 1962 & 1971)

Record Rainfall: 6.35" set in 1892

Record Snowfall: None

Wednesday Almanac For The Twin Cities (Praedictix/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Sunrise/Sunset Times for Minneapolis

July 27th

Sunrise: 5:53am

Sunset: 8:45pm

Hours of Daylight: ~14 hours & 52 minutes

Daylight LOST since yesterday: ~ 2 minutes & 12 seconds

Daylight LOST since Winter Solstice (December 21st): ~ 45 minutes

Moon Phase for July 27th at Midnight

0.5 Days Before New Moon

Moon Phase For July 26th at Midnight (Stream1/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

National High Temps Wednesday

The weather outlook on Wednesday shows hot temps lingering across the Southern US with highs warming into the 100s in Dallas once again. Temp in the Pacific Northwest will be well above average with record highs possible.

National Weather Outlook For Wednesday (Praedictix/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Wednesday Highs From Average (Praedictix/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

National Weather Outlook

Weather conditions through the over the next few days will be wet with scattered showers and storms in the Central US. Some of the storms could be strong to severe with heavy rainfall and flooding potential. There will also be heavy rains in the Desert Southwest with Monsoon storms and isolated flood concerns.

Weather Outlook Through Thursday (NOAA WPC/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Extended Precipitation Outlook

According to NOAA's Weather Prediction Center, areas of heavier precipitation will be found from the Southwest to the Mid-Atlantic States. Some of the rain could lead to localized flooding in the Desert Southwest and also along & east of the Mississippi River.

Extended Precipitation Outlook (NOAA WPC/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Climate Stories

(NOAA/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

"Farmers Fear 'Crisis' on Horizon as Heat Wave Threatens Crops, Animals"

"American farmers are bracing for a rough summer of excessive heat, which has plagued the nation and the rest of the world, and strained their crops and animals just in time for the global grain shortage. With temperatures in the 90s and even topping 100 in some places, U.S. farms have struggled to keep farm animals out of the heat and irrigation running as extreme weather has terrified farmers about what's in store for August. One Massachusetts farmer described the industry as on the brink of "crisis."

"Which Americans are most (and least) prepared for disasters?"

"(HealthDay News) — When hurricanes, floods and fires hit, everyone can struggle to respond and cope, but new research suggests that women, people with kids under 18, renters, the poor, and Black and Asian Americans are the most vulnerable to weather disasters. These groups need special help before disasters occur to make sure they're equipped to act, said lead researcher Smitha Rao, an assistant professor of social work at Ohio State University. "Focusing on vulnerable groups, understanding their specific barriers, and connecting them to resources within the community are key strategies to ensure no one is left behind when disaster strikes," Rao said in a university news release."

"Portable Wind Turbine Can Power Your Devices With Clean Energy on the Fly"

"It's time to ditch portable power banks, solar panels, and power stations as your go-to sources to fuel outdoor adventures. Meet Shine, a portable wind turbine that "creates energy faster than any other portable renewable product." This small but mighty turbine, developed by Aurea Technologies, sets up in two minutes and can provide a full charge for your phone in 20 minutes. And unlike the massive wind turbines we're used to, this compact one weighs about the same amount as your laptop. It can work rain or shine, making it perfect for on-the-go trekking with all the necessary electronics."

Thanks for checking in and don't forget to follow me on Twitter @TNelsonWX

@TNelsonWX (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Todd Nelson

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