Latest news with #MinnesotaDNR
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
June is Minnesota's peak for severe weather and 2025 may start fast
June is Minnesota's peak for severe weather and 2025 may start fast originally appeared on Bring Me The News. June arrives Sunday and by Monday there could be severe storms ripping through Minnesota. It could signal the start of a busy stretch in what is typically Minnesota's most active month for severe storms. "The start of June is looking anomalously busy from a severe weather/tornado standpoint. Residents across the High Plains, the Central Plains, parts of the Corn Belt and parts of the Upper Midwest should be [alert]," says meteorologist Matthew Cappucci. "The greatest risk for a few tornadic thunderstorms is over western portions of conventional Great Plains Tornado Alley. Farther east, we may see windy storm complexes pass over parts of the Upper Midwest and into Southern Canada as they ride up and over a ridge of high pressure." NOAA Storm Prediction Center has placed an area of the Dakotas and western Minnesota under a slight risk for severe storms on Monday. At this point, it appears Monday's activity will be most potent west of the Twin Cities, though storms in the metro cannot be ruled out. You get a good glimpse of what might happen Monday when you look at the European model's lightning forecast. Look at how it develops an intense line of storms Monday afternoon and evening. "We're going to see storms develop in South Dakota, western Minnesota late Monday, and then we'll see the leftovers Monday night into Tuesday," says Bring Me The News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard. "Looks like the severe threat for eastern Minnesota will be minimal or non-existent." June is also Minnesota's most active month for tornadoes, though Monday's severe threat looks to be more in the form of damaging winds than tornadoes. From 1991 to 2020, Minnesota averaged 46 tornadoes per year, with a peak of 113 in 2010 and a low of 15 in 2013. "Historically and statistically, June is the month of greatest frequency with July not far behind," the Minnesota DNR says. "May has the third greatest frequency, followed closely by August. Over 85% of all tornadoes in Minnesota have occurred between May and August." The European model is dumping a good amount of rain over the southern half of Minnesota and most of Iowa Monday-Wednesday next week. The outlook for June 2-6 calls for a likelihood of above normal temps and precipitation in Minnesota. From June 4-10, temps are forecast to normalize while it remains favorable for above normal precipitation. With summer starting, now is a good time to look how precipitation has evolved statewide, June-August, in Minnesota since 1900. The GIF blow clearly shows how eastern and southeastern Minnesota have trended wetter in the past 120 years. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The best hiking trail in the U.S. can be found in Minnesota
The No. 1 "easy to moderate" hiking trail in the United States can be found in Minnesota. That's according to USA Today's 10Best Reader's Choice Awards, which placed The Devil's Kettle Trail at the top of the charts for summer hiking options. The trail can be found in Judge C.R. Magney State Park, about a 15-mile drive northeast from Grand Marais on Minnesota's North Shore. The two-mile hike winds its way through forest along the Brule River, taking hikers on a 400-foot climb featuring around 175 steps. It culminates with two waterfalls, one of which is the Devil's Kettle, which sees the river split into two. "The Devil's Kettle Trail leads to a baffling natural magic trick: a waterfall that splits in two," USA Today writes. "Half the water vanishes into an underground abyss that has stumped geologists for decades." The Minnesota DNR says that the trail "one of the most unique and rewarding hikes in the country." "From the peaceful walk through the north woods to the view of the waterfall that seems to defy explanation, it's a place that sparks wonder and invites people to connect with nature in a very memorable way," said Erin Turner-Garza, park supervisor at Judge C.R. Magney State Park. While the USA Today write-up notes that the waterfall has "stumped geologists for decades," DNR hydrologists in 2017 found "nearly identical volumes of water flowing both above the Devil's Kettle waterfall and below it, showing the water is likely rejoining the stream below the waterfall."
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
As heavy rain soaks much of Minnesota, there's extreme fire risk in the north
Heavy rain is blanketing much of Minnesota on Tuesday, but not the part of the state that really, really needs it. While much of the state is in a drought or "abnormally dry" stage, the situation is significantly worse in the northeast of the state, where two large wildfires continue to burn. Residents in the Twin Cities, who already saw a heavy rain storm pass through on Monday evening, woke to moderate, consistent rain on Tuesday morning that in the end could total several inches in depth. Sign up for our BREAKING WEATHER newsletters The rain is expected to continue through much of Wednesday, with a widespread 1-1.5 inches of rain expected through then, with a chance of 2+ inches in south-central Minnesota, according to the National Weather Service. There's a slight chance of some rain in fire-hit St. Louis County, but the NWS in Duluth says it's "possible as far north as the Twin Ports," which would be south of the Jenkins Creek Fire and Camp House Fire. In fact, a red flag warning for "extreme fire risk" has been issued by the Minnesota DNR until 9 p.m. on Tuesday. The warning is in effect for seven counties, including St. Louis County, Cook County, and Lake County, with the others being Beltrami, Itasca, Koochiching, and Lake of the Woods. "A Red Flag Warning means fires can spread quickly and grow out of control under the predicted weather conditions, including strong winds and low humidity levels," the DNR said. "Residents should not burn in those counties where a Red Flag Warning is in effect and should check any recent burning they might have done to ensure the fire is completely out." Authorities monitoring the Jenkins Creek and Camp House fires had been warning that conditions could be challenging for suppression efforts early this week, with the priority with regards to the less-contained Jenkins Creek fire to prevent spread towards the Skibo and Hoyt Lakes communities. But there was better news for the Camp House Fire, which is 40% contained, with the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office announcing some areas have been downgraded from evacuation status. There have also been some road openings in Lake County.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Ducklings spotted in DNR's EagleCam nest
A mallard who commandeered a nest featured on Minnesota's EagleCam now has company in the pilfered dwelling. At least eight ducklings were seen on the live stream on Thursday, though some of them left the nest throughout the day. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources previously said the ducklings should survive the drop to the ground. Minnesota DNR Despite that, the DNR advises caution when watching the live stream due to the ducks' proximity to an active bald eagle nest. The mother was first spotted in the vacated eagle nest on April 13, with eggs appearing three days later. The nest was vacant because the eagles featured on the live stream built and moved to another nest nearby. The eagle couple welcomed two eaglets this breeding season, the DNR said. A DNR spokesperson said in the decade-plus the EagleCam has been in operation, the agency has never seen a duck take over a nest. Note: The video above originally aired April 24, 2025.
CBS News
12-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Wildfire prompts evacuations near Brimson in northeastern Minnesota
Crews in northeastern Minnesota are battling a wildfire that has grown to hundreds of acres. As of Sunday night, the size of the fire near Brimson, Minnesota, was about 750 acres, according to Minnesota Incident Command System. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service "are using full suppression tactics," MNICS said. Minnesota DNR Officials are asking the public to avoid the area. The fire first broke out Saturday afternoon in Ault Township, about 40 miles north of Duluth, the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office said. "Initial information is a number of cabins, garages and other structures have been affected," the sheriff's office said. "There are no known injuries to any people at this time." Several dozen residents were evacuated due to the fire. Nearly the entire state of Minnesota is under a red flag warning on Monday for elevated fire risk conditions. A similar warning was in place on Sunday. An air quality alert due to ozone pollution is also affecting much of the state.
