Friday’s Almanac (09/27/24)

The warm temperatures continued across the Weather First area today, with temperatures WELL above the long term average for this time of year!

We reached 79F in Rochester, but this was the cool spot on the map. Almost everywhere else across southeastern Minnesota and northern Iowa reached and even exceeded 80F. This doesn’t seem that out of the ordinary at first glance, but then you remember it’s almost October!

The average high for this time of year (September 27th) is 68F. Rochester was 11F above this average high today! The average low is 46F, with the observed morning low in Rochester being 50F Friday morning. By all temperature metrics, we were above average across the Weather First area.

The record high for this time of year is 86F set back in 1943, while the record low is 28F set back in 1942…what a difference a year can make in the record books!

Precipitation wise…September has been a bit rough. Some locations have seen some good rains over the course of the month, while others have been left mostly high and dry. Both Mason City and Rochester are nearly 2.50″ below average for the month!

Rochester remains above average for yearly precipitation by about 3″, but the gap between our yearly total and average is closing. Mason City has a yearly deficit by about 1.6″. Some folks around southeastern Minnesota and northern Iowa really need the rain. No rain is in the extended forecast though, and the next 2 weeks look to feature a pattern that would keep us dry into October.