After the StormAfter the Storm

Peter J. Boulay Peter J. Boulay

State Climatology Office State Climatology Office DNR- Ecological and Water DNR- Ecological and Water

ResourcesResources

Grand Marais Flooding- June 2008Grand Marais Flooding- June 2008(Courtesy Cook County News-Herald)(Courtesy Cook County News-Herald)

What happens to What happens to precipitation (records)?precipitation (records)?

MNgage (Minnesota-area Volunteer MNgage (Minnesota-area Volunteer Climate Observing Program)Climate Observing Program)

Statewide density is about one gauge Statewide density is about one gauge for every 72 square miles (NWS is 625 for every 72 square miles (NWS is 625 square miles) Cook County is 134 sq/misquare miles) Cook County is 134 sq/mi

Statewide there are 1,411 observersStatewide there are 1,411 observers 25 in Cook County (21 in SWCD) 4 25 in Cook County (21 in SWCD) 4

SWCD volunteers in 1990. SWCD volunteers in 1990.

MNgage is a “Network of MNgage is a “Network of Networks”Networks”

SWCD (Soil and Water Conservation SWCD (Soil and Water Conservation Districts)Districts)

National Weather Service Cooperative National Weather Service Cooperative ObserversObservers

““Backyard” Metropolitan Observers Backyard” Metropolitan Observers Metropolitan Mosquito Control DistrictMetropolitan Mosquito Control District Department of Natural Resources ForestryDepartment of Natural Resources Forestry Other Networks (FFA, Deep Portage,Sewer) Other Networks (FFA, Deep Portage,Sewer)

Average Average spacing of NWS spacing of NWS stations is 30 stations is 30 miles by miles by design.design.

Precip itation O bserversN ational W eather Service locations

189 observersJune 2004

Design spacing for Design spacing for SWCD gages is SWCD gages is ‘every other ‘every other township’ (12 township’ (12 miles) or better.miles) or better.

Precip itation O bserversall locations including SW C D

1466 observersJune 2004

History of MNgage History of MNgage

The early The early organizerorganizers of the s of the networknetworkattracted attracted media media attention attention using using oversized oversized rain rain gauges.gauges.

Data Gathering Methods and Data Gathering Methods and RetrievalRetrieval

Interested individuals Interested individuals and agenciesand agencies

Rain gauges and formsRain gauges and forms On-line data entry and On-line data entry and

retrievalretrieval Annual feedback letterAnnual feedback letter Annual quality controlAnnual quality control

Employee of the MonthEmployee of the Month

A A Successful Successful NetworkNetwork

Interested Interested individuals individuals

and and agenciesagencies

EquipmeEquipmentnt

Most Most observers observers use 4-inch use 4-inch

plastic plastic gaugesgauges

EquipmenEquipmentt

Observer Observer formform

PrecipitatioPrecipitation data is n data is entered on-entered on-lineline

Data entryData entry

State Climatology Office web State Climatology Office web site:site:

climate.umn.educlimate.umn.edu

See all See all your your data data back in back in time…time…

Annual Quality ControlAnnual Quality Control

Benefits and usesBenefits and uses

Storm water runoffStorm water runoff In depth climate In depth climate

investigationsinvestigations Flash flood Flash flood

climatologyclimatology Annual and special Annual and special

summariessummaries

Data is used by a wide range of Data is used by a wide range of clientsclients

Federal/state/local Federal/state/local agenciesagencies

Wetland Wetland delineators delineators

LawyersLawyers MediaMedia SchoolsSchools Engineering firmsEngineering firms Weather hobbyistsWeather hobbyists

Consulting firmsConsulting firms FarmersFarmers Insurance Insurance

agenciesagencies General publicGeneral public Red CrossRed Cross Construction Construction

companiescompanies

In Depth Climate In Depth Climate InvestigationsInvestigations

This map This map shows the shows the amount of amount of precipitation in precipitation in 2013.2013.

Departure From Normal Departure From Normal 20132013

Cook County Cook County was near was near normal to 6 normal to 6 inches above inches above normal for the normal for the yearyear

Precipitation Rank in Precipitation Rank in 2013 2013

Southern Cook Southern Cook County was in County was in the 95the 95thth percentile for percentile for precipitation precipitation for 2013.for 2013.

North Shore Storm of July 18North Shore Storm of July 18thth, , 20132013

Highway 61 Highway 61 was closed was closed for a time for a time south of south of Grand Grand Marias. Marias.

Parts of Cook Parts of Cook County County received a received a month’s month’s worth of worth of rainfall in rainfall in one day. one day.

North Shore Storm of July 18North Shore Storm of July 18thth, 2013, 2013

I took I took this this moment moment to drive to drive from from Grand Grand Marais to Marais to Lutsen.Lutsen.

North Shore Storm of July 18North Shore Storm of July 18thth, 2013, 2013

(courtesy Cook County News Herald)(courtesy Cook County News Herald)

Climate ChangeClimate Change

Climate ChangeClimate Change

In 5 minutes In 5 minutes or less…or less…

Climate Change: Northeast Climate Change: Northeast MNMN

Winter Temperature Increase of four Degrees per Century. Winter Temperature Increase of four Degrees per Century. (courtesy climate at a glance: NCDC)(courtesy climate at a glance: NCDC)

Climate Change: Northeast Climate Change: Northeast MNMN

Winter Temperature Increase of four Degrees per Century. Winter Temperature Increase of four Degrees per Century. (courtesy climate at a glance: NCDC)(courtesy climate at a glance: NCDC)

33rdrd coldest coldest Winter in 120Winter in 120Years! Years!

““Local” Climate ChangeLocal” Climate Change

Grand Marais 1894 Grand Marais 1894 (courtesy Minnesota Historical Society)(courtesy Minnesota Historical Society)

““Local” Climate ChangeLocal” Climate Change

Grand Marais 1915 Grand Marais 1915 (courtesy Minnesota State Climate Office)(courtesy Minnesota State Climate Office)

Grand Marias Today (courtesy US Army Corps)Grand Marias Today (courtesy US Army Corps)

Anything Different?Anything Different?

Downtown Grand Marias 2002 (courtesy U of M )Downtown Grand Marias 2002 (courtesy U of M )

More ChangesMore Changes

Persistent trough pattern keeping MN coolPersistent trough pattern keeping MN cool

What about the future?What about the future?

What about the future?What about the future?

What about the future?What about the future?

What about the future?What about the future?

Next Winter Temperature?Next Winter Temperature?

Next Winter Precipitation?Next Winter Precipitation?

Any Questions?Any Questions?