After breezy days with the temperature above or near 90 in the lakes area, Sunday, June 9, provided a sharp cool down.
Temperatures late Sunday afternoon failed to reach 70, even as clouds gave way to sunshine as storms passed to the west earlier in the day. The Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport weather observation center recorded light rain between 10 a.m. and noon but not enough to register for accumulation. Those who appreciate the cooler temperatures should like the forecast.
The National Weather Service in Duluth noted highs may reach above 70 Monday and Tuesday, but just barely. Highs may be in the mid to upper 60s for the middle part of the week before climbing back above 70 Friday. Temperatures should be in the upper 70s for the upcoming weekend.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible Monday, mainly between 4-7 p.m, the weather service reported. The chance for thunderstorms returns Tuesday with showers likely after 1 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday present a slight chance for showers and thunder. The chance for showers and thunderstorms continues through Saturday. Minnesota Public Radio noted severe storms are not anticipated at this time.
Tornado reported near Fertile
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A tornado, which preliminary reports list as an EF-2 with winds as high as 115 mph at its peak, was recorded near Fertile in Polk County Saturday night. The tornado traveled 3.6 miles and was 160 yards wide at its maximum width, the National Weather Service in Grand Forks, N.D., reported after surveying the damage. No injuries were reported. Damage included snapped trees and damage to grain bins and a barn roof on a farmstead. The tornado touched down about 7:34 p.m. and dissipated about 7:45 p.m. An EF-2 is described as a strong tornado with winds from 111 to 135 mph. The EF, or enhanced Fujita ratings, go from a weak tornado at zero with winds from 65 to 85 mph to an EF-5, a violent tornado that may exceed 200 mph.
Spring to summer, in a flash
After a brutally long winter, spring crept in with below freezing overnight temperatures recorded on May 10 and near freezing, at 33 degrees, on May 20 and 38 degrees on May 26. By May 31, the high was 90 degrees. In June, the National Weather Service climate data for the Brainerd area listed daytime highs climbing from 70 on June 1 to 85 by June 3, followed by daytime highs of 84, 79, 91, 93, and 90-which is 17 degrees higher than average for this time of the year. June has been hot and dry with little precipitation recorded.
The normal high for this time is 75 degrees. Saturday's 90 degrees was just 2 degrees from matching the 119-year-old record high for the date June 8, 1900. Friday's 93 degrees was further from the record of 98 degrees set in 2011. And Thursday's 91 degrees fell short of dethroning the high of 96 degrees set on June 6, 1950. Of the 90 degree days so far already, with the official start of summer coming later this month, even the 90 degrees on May 31-while noteworthy-couldn't make it into the record books to beat the 101 degrees recorded on that date in 1934.
