Updated: 04/24/2009 7:03 PM KSTP.com | Print Story
By: Chikage Windler

WINDLER: Chik's Pics - Why I Love Minnesota

Chikage Windler - Meteorologist READ ALL OF CHIKAGE'S "CHIK'S PICS" BLOGS EMAIL CHIKAGE READ BIO  READ ALL OF CHIKAGE'S BLOGS ABOUT AUSTEN

WINDLER: Chik's Pics - Ice Cream Weather!

THE WEEKLY RECAP:

Monday, April 20th, 2009 - Took the Day off, so no Chik's Pics

The weather: mostly cloudy with showers.  Cool with a high of just 49.  It's a good thing I took the day off with indoor plans, otherwise I would have been pretty disappointed!  My husband and I took our 18-month-old daughter Austen to Underwater Adventures for a journey in the sea.  It was such fun!

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 - Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis

The weather: sunny and very windy!  We made it to a high of 60, but it sure didn't feel like it!  While most people were complaining about the wind, some wind surfers at Lake Calhoun were loving the thrill of sailing across the lake!  There were actually whitecaps on the lake it was so windy!

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 - Lake Susan in Chanhassen

The weather: sunny, not as windy, but not as warm as I had hoped.  Wednesday was SUPPOSED to be the day that our warm-up started.  While southwest Minnesota made it into the low 70s, the Twin Cities barely squeaked to a high of 61.  That said, there were plenty of kids and parents enjoying the sun and fun at the playground at Lake Susan.  I was shooting a story on Severe Weather Awareness week at the National Weather Service office down the street from Lake Susan, so what better place to grab "Chik's Pics" as well?

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 - U of M in Minneapolis

The weather: mostly cloudy to start (until the warm front moved through) and then WOW!!! sunshine and MAJOR WARMTH!!!!  We shot up to 85 degrees (one degree away from the record of 86 set back in 1990)  It felt SO good.  It's just amazing when Mother Nature brings such extremes!  There were many spots south and west of the Cities that pushed into the 90s!  It was the warmest day since September 1st when we hit 88.  As soon as we made it past 80...I rushed out to the U because I had a feeling (and it was a correct one) that there would be people sunbathing.  The students I spoke with were "studying" outside...and loving every second of the warmth.

By the way, it was also STATEWIDE TORNADO DRILL day as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week.  My story on the new thunderstorm warning guidelines aired at 4:30pm. 

Here's a link: Will fewer hail warnings be a good thing?

Friday, April 24th, 2009 - 50th & France in Edina

The weather: incredible!  It's 32 and snowing as I write this at 6:45 Friday evening in Detroit Lakes.  It was 74 with a 40pm high in the Cities.  It was 92 with a record high in Rochester!!!  That kind of amazing contrast is why I think living in Minnesota is awesome.  Never mind the great quality of life, relatively minor traffic issues, and lots of wide open spaces and appreciation for nature.  At 5pm today, as I was touting the mind-boggling temperature contrast...along with showing severe storms in Southeast Minnesota and Western Wisconsin.  So cool (if you're into weather, that is).  If you're not, at least it was nice enough for a mid-afternoon outdoor dining experience as I discovered at 50th & France where I took my "Chik's Pics."  Al fresco dining was very popular at both Salut and the Edina Grill!

Don't look for a repeat of this wild week anytime soon.  The weekend features 50s and chances of rain, next week should settle in the 60s, and the following week is also looking like 50s and 60s.  It sure has been fun to forecast and experience Minnesota weather this week....just one of the many reasons I love Minnesota!

Thanks as always for reading my blog!