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Dangerous Heat Expands; Heavy Rainfall Threats; Fire Weather Concerns for the West

The heat will increase and expand across the Central Plains, Mississippi Valley, Southeast and into the Eastern U.S. through the week as high pressure builds across the eastern two-thirds of the country. On the northern periphery of this heat, the threat for severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across the northern Plains and upper Midwest through Tuesday. Critical Fire Weather for the west. Read More >

Overview

On March 06, 2017, an early spring severe weather outbreak produced large hail and damaging wind in Wisconsin, and even three tornadoes across Minnesota. This marks the earliest date in Minnesota history that a tornado was ever recorded. The previous record was March 18, 1968.  The loop to the right shows a comparison of visible and infrared satellite imagery from the GOES16 satellite, along with radar reflectivity, lightning, and warnings at 5:00 PM March 06, 2017.  The line of thunderstorms was located across Central Minnesota and extends southward into Iowa.

300 mb winds and heights
Figure 1: Damage from Freeborn County in the town of Clarks Gove, Minnesota.

 

850mb temperatures and winds 850mb temperatures and winds
Figure 2: Damage from Sherburne County near Elk Lake, Minnesota. Figure 3: Damage from Faribault County by Rice Lake, Minnesota.

 

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