Douglas: Drought creeps in, with little rain in sight

The European forecast model predicts showers on Halloween with a high near 50.

The Minnesota Star Tribune
October 22, 2024 at 8:04PM

Predicting the future is hard. Just ask a CIA analyst, economist, Vikings fan or a pollster.

My take: Pollsters make the meteorologists look good. When was the last time you had a nice long chat with a stranger calling from an unknown number? Nope. My advice: Tune out the noise and ignore the spin. Vote.

By the way, the European forecast model predicts showers on Halloween with a high near 50. No blizzards this year. And although it’s a long way out, NOAA’s GFS model keeps Minnesota (and much of America) dry and mild on Election Day with no big storms.

Meanwhile, our wet summer seems like a meteorological mirage. Moderate drought has crept back into the metro, with severe drought for northern and southwestern counties. We need a good dousing, but despite a few showers Thursday night I don’t see any big rainmakers in sight. Probably no snow into early November. Huh?

La Niña is getting off to a very slow start. Just like winter. Winter outlooks are interesting but unreliable. Just like polls. The science is murky. Buyer beware.

about the writer

about the writer

Paul Douglas

Columnist

Paul Douglas is a nationally-respected meteorologist, with 40 years of broadcast television and radio experience. He provides daily print and online weather services for the Star Tribune.

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