Air from Canada to blame for storms, cooler temps

“There is a shift in temperatures Thursday from the earlier part of the week,” Huyck told The Journal Thursday morning. Highs Tuesday tipped thermometers at 89 degrees — the warmest day experienced in Borderland this summer.

While much of the Midwest spent last week in a heat wave, Huyck said warm, muggy air filtered through areas around Borderland, but not enough to issue heat warnings.

“The northern part of the state was flirting with a heat advisory, but the criteria didn’t quite make it there,” he said. “Still, when it gets warm like it has been, we remind people to take it easy, pay attention to their bodies and drink plenty of fluids.”

Thursday, meteorologists kept a close eye on radar images that indicated a narrow band of up to almost 3 inches of rain across Koochiching and St. Louis counties. A flood advisory was in effect for the area through the later hours of the morning.

“Radar estimates we’ve seen show between 1 and 2-1/2 inches of rain as of 10 a.m. Thursday,” the meteorologist said.

Huyck continued that forecasters received reports from Borderland residents of flooded ditches and standing water in some yards.

“We’ll continue to see rain through (Thursday) afternoon and into Friday,” he said.

In addition, Huyck said the shift in weather could be accompanied by severe storms, strong winds and golf ball size hail.

Weekend forecast

Organizers of Riverfest, which is planned for Saturday at the Irvin N. Anderson Amphitheater, previously told The Journal they ordered “exceptional” weather for the concert event and Huyck notes they may get their wish.

“After the front moves through...most of Saturday should stay pretty quiet,” he said. “Sunshine is expected.”

If all goes as planned, the event will take place just in time with the possibility of showers and isolated thunderstorms returning to the area Sunday.

“When the high pressure sets back in, we could see a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms Sunday,” Huyck said.

Summertime weather

Huyck reports that with only about a week and a half left in July, the International Falls area is above the monthly average for both temperature and precipitation.

“As far as the temperature goes, International Falls is about 4-1/2 to 5 degrees above the average,” he said.

Same goes for rainfall.

Before Thursday’s rain, Borderland was slightly below normal, but not by much. While the meteorologist didn’t have exact measurements of how much rain had fallen Thursday morning, he said the amount was enough to boost the monthly average.

“We were just under an inch below average before Thursday,” he said. “I can see from the radar that we’ve already surpassed that – and there is more on the way.”