by Northern News Now meteorologist Dave Anderson
What a difference a year makes! Last summer, we were in the midst of a severe drought. Right now, the U.S. Drought Monitor puts Lake, St. Louis, Pine County, Carlton County and Aitkin County in the perfectly normal category. That comes from splitting the difference between a wet June and a dry July. By our northern standards, this past July was hot and humid. However, it could have been even more humid but we were short about two inches of rain.
August may change that back to the wet side. There are signs that we’ll get an extra inch of rain this month. The normal is 3.5 so we may get 4.5 inches this time around. Temperatures may go one degree cooler than normal as the La Nina effect gets close to taking effect. July was 0.8 degree warmer than normal which is the outer limit of normal climate variability.
The long-range forecast hints at rainy and cool weather from August 1 to 6. August 7 to 12 will be showery and cool. The 13th to 21st should be a warm spell that will drive some late season thunderstorms. The 22nd to 26th may get even warmer and stormier but the 27th to 31st will turn cooler than normal.
Looking beyond that, indicators indicate September may go back up for temps but in general, winter will be chilly thanks to LaNina doing the opposite of last year’s El Nino. At this moment, it’s up in the air if that will be cool and dry or cool and snowy.
