Area Weather: A quiet hurricane season is a benefit to consumers

The Atlantic Ocean hurricane season has been very quiet so far this season.

However, things have started to pick up this week. Tropical Storm Claudette made landfall on Monday as a Tropical Depression and dropped some heavy rain in the Gulf Coast region.

Some severe thunderstorms also moved across Alabama and portions of Florida associated with this depression. Hurricane Bill, meanwhile, was the first named hurricane of the season and was a Category 1 as of last check, with winds up to 75 mph being reported. It was expected to make landfall by week's end and could become a major hurricane.

The fact that it has been a quiet hurricane season has been good for consumers as it hasn't disrupted our oil supply. We hope that trend continues as we can all use a break at the gas pump.

WEATHER FACT

A hurricane is a tropical storm with sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or greater in the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. This same tropical cyclone is known as a typhoon in the western Pacific and a cyclone in the Indian Ocean.

THIS DAY IN

WEATHER HISTORY

In 2007 a record 24-hour maximum rainfall of 15.10 inches was set in Hokah, MN which is in Houston County. This 24-hour total contributed to the record monthly maximum rainfall of 23.86 inches that was set in Hokah during August of 2007.

MINNESOTA AT

A GLANCE

Moorhead...Low 61...High 72

Duluth...Low 48...High 68

Morris...Low 57...High 72

Twin Cities...Low 61...High 76

Rochester...Low 55...High 72

TODAY (Wednesday)

Mostly cloudy, chance of showers/t-storms. Winds: SWNW 10-15 mph

Precip: .10"-.20"

Today's sunrise: 6:26 am Today's sunset: 8:22 p.m.

Normal High: 78 Normal Low: 57

A weather disturbance will slide through the state and it could generate some showers.

OUTLOOK

•Thursday-Mostly cloudy and cool with a chance of showers. High 68 Low 56 Winds: NW at 10-20 mph, Precip: Trace-.-10"

•Friday-Mostly sunny and cool. High 71 Low 54 Winds: NE at 10-15 mph, Precip: None

•Saturday-Mostly sunny and warmer. High 77 Low 60, Winds: S 10-15 Prec. None

•Sunday-Partly cloudy with a chance of showers. High 76 Low 61, Winds: NW 10-20 mph. Prec. Trace-.10"

•Monday: Mix of clouds and some sun, chance of showers/t-storms. High 76 Low 56, Winds: NE 10-15 mph Prec. Trace-.10"