The summer of 2016 has arrived early this year.

Please hear me out before you hit send on those emails reminding me it's still May.

Astronomical summer begins June 20th at 5:34 pm CDT. (summer solstice)

Meteorological summer begins June 1st.

Weather maps are basically already in summer mode over Minnesota.

Talk about multi-taking. Meteorologists operate in multiple frames of reference. Astronomical calendar seasons. Meteorological time. Weather map reality? It usually ignores seasonal restrictions. No wonder we're a little batty as a profession.

Yes, there's a reason they call us 'weather geeks.'

The atmosphere is in mid-June mode until further notice. That means temperatures running 5 to 10 degrees warmer than average with highs in the upper 70s and 80s. Abundant Gulf of Mexico moisture with dew points in the 50s and 60s means more rounds of scattered thunderstorms each time a new front of upper atmospheric ripple rides northeast.

Welcome to the longer, and potentially hotter than usual summer of 2016.

+1F temperatures vs. average so far in May at MSP Airport

9th straight warmer than average mont in Minnesota

Occasional T-Storms

Timing is everything. The best chances for more (organized) T-Storm clusters appear to be Thursday night after midnight, on and off Friday into Saturday. Sunday and Memorial Day are looking like the sunnier and warmer holiday weekend boating, bike riding, power lounging days at this point.

The maps show some sun Thursday, then wider T-Storm coverage Friday into Saturday.

NOAA

Wednesday morning's T-Storm wave broke the sting of 11 dry days at MSP Airport and across much of Minnesota.

Various models crank out an average of over an inch of rain in the next few days. Pick your favorite model and your dry spots.

NOAA via Iowa State University

In my continuing effort to revive the much promised metric system of our youth, I give you the European model forecast courtesy of the Norwegian Met Institute. Translation? Mid-80s and sunny Thursday with more rain Friday into Saturday, Sunday looks sunnier, a chance of more spotty T-showers on Memorial Day.

Norwegian Met Institute

99% chance 2016 will be the next new hottest year on record?

Three "warmest years on record" in a row? That's unprecedented in the modern climate record.

Andrea Thompson at Climate Central elaborates. I've pulled some key excerpts.