One massive storm system. Several different extreme weather results.

    

A massive low-pressure center swirls over Denver. The effects of the giant comma-shaped storm stretch from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

Welcome light rains in Minnesota. Record April heat in Seattle. Prolific snow totals in Colorado’s high country. Torrential downpours and flash floods along the tail end of the troubled front in Houston.

More than 1000 water rescues today as torrential rains of 8″-16″ inundated the Houston area https://t.co/WhVfcD9O7opic.twitter.com/hzh8lETrRd

— Weather Underground (@wunderground) April 18, 2016

When you get 15 inches of rain, there’s just nowhere for the water to go. Cue the weather drones.

An #eyewitness news viewer sent us this drone video of flooding in Morton Ranch https://t.co/x6CS4vdJ54https://t.co/ThNOco3IRJ

— Houston News (@abc13houston) April 19, 2016

    

Rainfall totals between 10 and 17 inches are common across the Houston area with this storm. The heaviest totals of 15 inches-plus focused in the western suburbs.

17.6″ of rain in parts of Houston metro today. More totals across SE Texas here: https://t.co/h0N3JXLFsI#houwx pic.twitter.com/7jK2XOKTuI

— NWSHouston (@NWSHouston) April 18, 2016

The 9.92 inches at Houston’s Intercontinental Airport makes it the second wettest day in Houston history according to the Houston National Weather Service office.

Houston Intercontinental Airport’s rain total on Monday is the 2nd wettest day ever recorded at IAH.#txwx #houwx pic.twitter.com/pHq7lYECk7

— NWSHouston (@NWSHouston) April 19, 2016

Scattered heavy storms may dump another 2 inches-plus on Houston. Not the best of news with ground already underwater. Flash flood watches continue into Wednesday.

Today to Thursday chance of rain w/ some locally heavy rainfall. Flood potential through Thur…#houwx #txwx #bcswx pic.twitter.com/yrh9ce59ox

— NWSHouston (@NWSHouston) April 19, 2016

Colorado snow totals reach 4 feet

In the cold air underneath the spinning low, some incredible snowfall totals in Colorado’s high country. White gold for skiers. Soon to be liquid gold for Colorado river systems.

Click on the link for snow reports.https://t.co/C1edRzNe88 #cowxpic.twitter.com/NtwvarJ5CB

— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) April 17, 2016

Record April heat in Pacific Northwest

Meanwhile, Seattle basks in the warmest April day on record.

Evening revelers at #Seattle‘s Green Lake after a record warm A̶u̶g̶u̶s̶t̶ April day. #wawxpic.twitter.com/GxwMuuJvb3

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) April 19, 2016

Sea-Tac’s tentative high temp today stands at 89°F, shattering the record for warmest day in April ever by 4°F. #wawx #incredibleheat

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) April 19, 2016

Almost 90 in Seattle in April? My spidey senses tell me it may be a long hot summer in Minnesota.

Record high in #Seattle today of 89°, 30° above the normal of 59°. This is the biggest difference between record and normal on record.#wawx

— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) April 19, 2016

Portland eventually hit 89 Monday, as record heat blanketed the Pacific Northwest.

602pm | Portland Airport shatters record with 87° today; several others follow suit #orwx #wawx#pdxtst pic.twitter.com/9wOLGn4877

— NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) April 19, 2016

Temperatures push 90 again in Seattle and Portland, Ore., today.

    

Minnesota: Welcome rains

The extreme weather events around the country make our showers seem tame by comparison. Rainfall totals so far of one-quarter of an inch are common with some locally higher amounts. Additional totals across Minnesota look light and spotty, as heavier storm totals favor Iowa through Wednesday.

The low pressure center swings east toward Chicago this week. Minnesota rides the northern edge of the system.

Back to the 60s

We cool off this week back to the 60s, closer to our now average high of 60 degrees in the metro. Spotty rain today and tomorrow. Sun returns later this week. More showers look likely by Sunday.

Edge of drought

We’ll take the rain this week. Drought and abnormally dry conditions (pre-drought) creeps into western Minnesota in the latest U.S. Drought Monitor. The Twin Cities metro is running about an inch behind on rainfall since March 1.

Meanwhile in the Indian Ocean

Weather Underground has an update on the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded there.

Still a Cat 5, Fantala is the strongest cyclone recorded anywhere in the Indian Oceanhttps://t.co/WhVfcD9O7opic.twitter.com/1FPM0oS1YZ

— Weather Underground (@wunderground) April 18, 2016

Another view from the Capital Weather Gang.

    

Incredible satellite imagery of Category 5 cyclone hovering near Madagascarhttps://t.co/HDUPOUuoHApic.twitter.com/1gvgbJ3TUL

— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) April 18, 2016

Speaking of Capital Weather Gang, I’m headed to Washington, D.C., later this week with CWG Weather Editor Jason Samenow and other national weather and climate journalists, scientists and law experts for a conference on communicating uncertainty in climate change and science at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Communicating uncertainty in science is a challenge, as we clearly communicate what we know, what is actionable, and what we are in the process of learning. More on that in a future Climate Cast.

Meanwhile I had to smile at the latest research that shower meteorologists aren’t perceived as creepy.

This makes us happy: Meteorologists aren’t total creepers — science says so! https://t.co/x8nGrUe13Spic.twitter.com/dbl9TtAUmt

— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) April 18, 2016