Brian D

How's it going with the cicadas were you are?

Brings back another memory. Don't remember the year, but we had an April storm with strong NE winds that blew the last remaining ice that was nearer Duluth into the Duluth canal, and along Park Point. It was so thick from piling on itself, that the next day, an ore boat was leaving, and tried to make it through the ice at the end of the piers. It couldn't push through, so it had to back up, and redock. The CG cutter Sundew, which was a cutter stationed at the CG station there in the Duluth Harbor (retired in 2004) had to go and make a path through that ice. Took a good day or more to loosen the ice. It was a good 10-15' or more thick. Slabs of ice piled on top of each other. Just a note, but the CG cutter Makinaw was retired in 2006. It was 240 ft long. The Sundew was 180 ft long. Mackinaw was a brute, and could handle much more ice than the Sundew. Hence, during the 1996 shipping opener, she was the work horse leading the boats for a few weeks that season. The ice during that year was running 1-2' thick across the Lake, and as melting was on going, winds would pile the ice to some degree, making it hard for ore boats to navigate, and the threat of open lanes quickly closing, and crushing the boats was the reason for the Mackinaw's extra duty that year.

Reminds me of the 1995-96 winter season. Ice over my way was very late in leaving as well. Trout, and smelt runs were a month late (typically start mid April), and piled ice was on the shores until late June. The ice breaker Mackinaw, had to lead ore boats for quite a while during that time because of the thick, extensive ice. Pretty much through the month of April, I believe. I don't remember how late things were in the 2013-14 season, but it was a stout season.

0.34" of rain from last night's showers. Stayed relatively warm through the night, and I kept my bedroom window open. Foggy morning, and it's still hanging on here at noon.

A very early summer like day with temps around 70-72, and dews around 60-62. Winds out of the S around 10mph. Feels great with the higher humidity. Got some Sun on the deck. I'll take aftrn temps like this all summer.

Broods XIII & XIX emerging together for the first time since 1803. Billions (possibly at the trillion level) of them going to make for a noisy next month across our SW sub. That's quite a lot of cicadas. Wow!

Hopefully, that's hardcore freeze for late May. We might tease frost level temps next week for a day, but should be out of the woods for temps like that.

Upper 20's-mid 30's this morning across NE MN. Should be the last significant run of chilly mornings. Lake breeze yesterday kept temps around 60, with 50's right on the shoreline. Should be the same today.

Yeah, it gets a little chilly sometimes up here in the Summer. This morning it looks like we had temps 30-35 in the inland areas of NE MN. Another round tomorrow morning, too, before it warms up a bit for the weekend.

TH pop running around 3.7k, which is plenty big enough for me to live in. When I was in the Army, stationed in NJ, the big pop difference was very different to handle in everyday life from what I was used too. TOO MUCH, but being young, and forced to adjust, you do what you have too. Nasty air there compared to up here, as well. Duluth has been the biggest city (86k+) that I've had to deal with regularly, and that is not too bad. After my Army years out East, whenever I had to go to the Cities, I was prepared for that. They are still easier to deal with than the mayhem out East. Summer tourism here gets a little nuts, and sirens tend to wail a bit more often than I care for, but it's better than other places I've lived in my younger days.

Temps running in the mid-upper 60's currently (11:30 am) with rain to the W & S. Moving slow this way, so not sure what we'll get here later, if anything. A very light SE wind keeping temps a little lower along the shoreline. A very nice start to Memorial Day.

Good records at Pontiac, and DTW show only 2-2.4" for them so far. But the top 10 wettest May's for them run between 5-8"+. So sounds like you're up there.

Looks like I was too aggressive in bringing in HP for Memorial Day. It makes it's move into our region starting on Tuesday. But not too bad a overall.

A cool morning in the upper 30's-low 40's around NE MN. Picked up 0.28" of rain yesterday from scattered shwrs/stms. Up to 3.82" for the month (3.30" May avg), so doing well there. Looks like another chance at shwrs/stms tonight.

Windy start to the day with chilly NE winds up to 35 mph, and temps in the low 40's this morning. Rain just to the S & W of me as system moves this way.

2.12" here in town. No thunder here tho. Rivers are high, as well as the lawn.

That looks like EF3 to 4 damage along the path. Brutal. Hope everyone made shelter.

First round nets 0.79". Looks like a break for a while on radar before storms creep up this way later.

Already up to around 0.50" of rain, and a long day/night ahead.

Rains incoming from the SE, and a Flash Flood Watch out. Should get interesting around here later today. Hopefully get some good thunder.

After a few showers early this morning, been cloudy with temps hovering around 60 this afternoon. Looks like a good shot at heavier rains tomorrow/tomorrow night with nasty storms to my S possible.

Looks like today is going to be the best day for the week. With winds out of the W/SW should be in the 70's in town. Yesterday, the Lake wind didn't relent, so stayed cool.

Storm passed just to my N last night, but provided my first lightning show of the season. Batch of showers passed through this morning with a crack of thunder. Should warm to around 70 by this afternoon after front moves through, and winds turn more W.

0.46" of rain yesterday, with another 0.20" early this morning. Another cooler day today in the 50's before things warm up into the 70's here in town over the weekend. Will be able to sit out on the deck, and get some Sun. Even tho there will be a threat of rain early, and some scattered stms possible in the aftrn.

These help visualize the difference between 2012 & 2024. As Joe mentioned, this year has been a steadier warmth overall than 2012.