Major heat waves hit Minnesota and the U.K.

CATHY WURZER: You think it's hot here? Well, try the record-breaking 104 degrees in Eastern England-- sizzling weather there and nearly everywhere is a concern thanks to climate change. Here with more on the weather is MPR's Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner. Welcome back, Paul.

PAUL HUTTNER: Hey. Great to talk with you as always, Cathy.

CATHY WURZER: Wow. I was talking to my cousins in Austria early this morning. And they just cannot get over the heat wave that's in Europe. I'm kind of curious-- what records were set not only in the UK, but elsewhere in Europe?

PAUL HUTTNER: Yeah. There were a lot. You mentioned 104 at London Heathrow Airport. That's the all-time UK heat record temperature. And 29 other cities, by the way, in the UK also set their all-time records. Dozens of locations in the rest of Europe set all-time highs-- talking Spain, Portugal, many countries.

And, Cathy, those records weren't just broken by a little bit, they were smashed by 2 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. That's a lot with climate records. And we're over 1,000 deaths and counting in parts of Spain and Portugal. And you mentioned climate change-- you know, here's the bottom line on climate change and heat waves in the context of climate change.

The big picture is pretty simple. When you change the chemistry of the atmosphere like we have by pumping more carbon dioxide in faster in the last 150 years than in what scientists think is 3 million years, you change the physical response of the atmosphere. So it's easier to get to these extreme heat events. There's a couple of good analogies I like.

It's like moving the climate goalposts toward these events. Think of a football analogy where they get the ball on the 35-yard line after a kickoff. Well, this is now our new climate like the ball's on the 50. And it's easier to get to that far end zone. Another one I like-- the weather dice are loaded.

Instead of having a 1 through 6, you take off the one, you put on a second 6. So you roll the dice for daily weather, you're still getting 2, 3, 4, 5 a lot, but there's a much higher chance you're going to hit 6 and get these extreme weather events, Cathy. So climate change is making the extreme cold less likely and these extreme heat events far more likely. And their frequency, intensity, and duration is increasing.

CATHY WURZER: I am wondering here about our weather-- what we're seeing here when it comes to the number of 90-degree days in Minnesota. Have we surpassed what we normally have at this point of the summer?

PAUL HUTTNER: We're right on average for the year. We've got lots of Wurzer weather this year. You're getting your share for sure. 91 yesterday, Cathy-- that was day 13 at Twin Cities airport-- at or above 90. And we still have half the summer ahead. So we're at average.

13 is an average for the entire year. We're there already. We still have about half of meteorological summer ahead. So very interesting. We had two in May, eight in June, and three so far in July in terms of 90-degree days. Our next chance is Friday.

CATHY WURZER: Well, joy, I guess. But that's also just a climate signature, right, I mean, the fact that we are hotter. We are hot too.

PAUL HUTTNER: In Minnesota, it's really been our winters that have warmed more significantly than our summers. That's kind of interesting. I think Lake Superior might have something to do with that in the Upper Midwest, and also the heavier rainfall localized. Those have been the two biggest climate signals in Minnesota.

CATHY WURZER: I'm getting a little worried about the dry weather. Should I be?

PAUL HUTTNER: Yeah. I think you should be, especially for parts of Minnesota. Now, you know, first of all, we've got some relief with the forecast here in terms of humidity-- it's 85 now with that dew point 57. That's comfortable in the Twin Cities. That's down from low-70s last evening. So we're in the 80s today tomorrow.

Again, low-90s Friday and 80s, it looks like, for the weekend. Chance of rain Friday, Saturday, but it doesn't look widespread, Cathy. And as you pointed out, many areas of Minnesota are getting dry, especially from the Twin Cities kind of west through the Highway 212, 7, and Highway 12 corridors. That area is about 2 to 5 inches below average on rainfall over the past 60 days here during the growing season.

It's been wetter in southern Minnesota. They got some really good rains from I-94, also from Fargo, north of I-94, towards St. Cloud and Little Falls the last few days. So that's been beneficial. But we're in moderate drought in the southeast half of the Twin Cities, pre-drought, kind of abnormally dry in that area west and northwest of the Twin Cities.

So yeah, we're concerned. We'd like to get some more rain in here. And right now, the only chances I see look spotty and on Friday. And just one quick thing, Cathy, before we go, because I travel up north a lot. And I did that again the end of last month. And I thought of you when I was up there. And so I brought you back a little surprise. Take a listen.

[RUSHING WATER]

Hey, Z. It's Paul Huttner here up on the shore of Lake Superior East of Grand Marais a little bit on a beautiful stony, rocky beach. Blue sky, a few puffy white cumulus clouds, 77 degrees, a glorious late June day. And I just thought you and our Minnesota Now audience might enjoy a little moment of zen with some waves on Lake Superior. Enjoy.

[WAVES CRASHING]

CATHY WURZER: Oh, I so love that sound. I so love that sound. Thank you, Paul Huttner. That was lovely.

PAUL HUTTNER: You are welcome. I know you love that big lake. We are so lucky to have it as a resource. So I just thought I'd bring you back a little audio zen.

CATHY WURZER: I appreciate it. I needed that today too, my friend. Thank you. We'll talk to you again this afternoon with Tom Crann.

PAUL HUTTNER: Sounds good. Thanks.

CATHY WURZER: Thanks, Paul. Paul Huttner is MPR's chief meteorologist.