In a few weeks, I'll start teaching a meteorology class at Lake Superior College again. I always tell the students that warm fronts are fairly easygoing because their long slope makes for slow lifting of moisture and therefore more rain than storms. Cold fronts ram moisture up rapidly, quickly releasing the latent heat of condensation stored in water vapor, which eggs on rapid motion in air molecules. The friction of those molecules in motion builds a static charge we call lightning.
Wouldn't you know it, another hard-hitting cold front could clash upon us today. That means a 50 percent chance for potentially severe storms beginning in the afternoon. Rain totals, though, should stay well under the one-inch mark this time.
The rain chance will hold on through Tuesday morning, but then more sunshine will come calling. That round of sun should remain through Thursday.
FIVE DAY FORECAST
Monday - partly sunny with 50% storm chance and high of 75 with low 54.
Tuesday - 40% morning rain chance followed by partly cloudy sky with high 70 and low 51.
Wednesday - mostly sunny with high 75 and low 54.
Thursday - partly cloudy with high 73 and low 58.
Friday - mostly cloudy with 40% storm chance and high 75 with low 56.
AROUND THE REGION
Twin Ports: Monday - partly sunny with 50% storm chance and wind S 5-10. Monday night - partly cloudy with 30% rain chance and wind W 5-10.
Iron Range: Monday - partly sunny with 40% storm chance and wind SW 5-10. Monday night - partly cloudy with 30% rain chance and wind NW 5-10.
NW WI: Monday - partly cloudy with 30% storm chance and wind SW 5-10. Monday night - partly cloudy with 40% storm chance and wind W 5-10.
Twin Cities: Monday - partly cloudy with 40% storm chance and wind SW 5-10. Monday night - partly cloudy with 30% storm chance and wind W 5-10.
