Crazy record! Highest dew point ever at MSP Airport (82!)

This is getting silly.

The dew point reached 82 degrees at MSP Airport at 3 and 4pm this afternoon at MSP.

This is the highest dew point ever recorded at MSP Airport.

The observed heat index of 119 at 4pm appears to tie the highest heat index ever recorded in the Twin Cities. The previous record dates back to 1966.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

From NWS:

NOUS43 KMPX 192106

PNSMPX

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-

201000-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN

400 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2011

...UNOFFICIAL DEW POINT RECORD SET IN THE TWIN CITIES TODAY...

THE DEW POINT TEMPERATURE AT THE MINNEAPOLIS ST PAUL INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT WAS 82 DEGREES ON THE 3 PM AND 4 PM OBSERVATION. THIS IS THE

HIGHEST DEW POINT TEMPERATURE REPORTED ON AN HOURLY OBSERVATION AT

THE MINNEAPOLIS ST PAUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SINCE HOURLY DEW POINT

RECORDS BEGAN IN 1945.

THE PREVIOUS HOURLY DEW POINT RECORD WAS 81 DEGREES...WHICH WAS SET

ON JULY 30TH 1999. A DEW POINT OF 81 DEGREES WAS ALSO REPORTED AT

THE AIRPORT ON SUNDAY...MONDAY...AND EARLIER TODAY /JULY 17-19/.

THE MINNESOTA STATE CLIMATOLOGY OFFICE IS THE OFFICIAL SOURCE OF

DEW POINT RECORDS ACROSS THE STATE. THIS NEW RECORD WILL BE

CONSIDERED UNOFFICIAL UNTIL IT IS CONFIRMED BY THE STAFF AT THE

STATE CLIMATE OFFICE.

$$

MARGRAF

From Mark Seeley:

"Hi Paul and Tom,

Checking hourly reports from ASOS and AWOS stations I see many dewpoints in the 80s F, including a new record high dewpoint for MSP of 82 F. With the additions of water vapor from the recent heavy rainfalls I would not be surprised to see the state dewpoint record of 86 F get beaten this afternoon, and perhaps even the state record Heat Index of 124 F get beaten as well (Moorhead had a Heat Index of 121 F last hour). I noticed the automated station at Red Wing reported an 87 F dewpoint.

Mark"

With a new all time dew point record and 3 consecutive days of 80 degree dew points, this is now clearly the most humid air mass ever in the Twin Cities and Minnesota.

And the Minnesota weather hits just keep on comin'!

PH

Update 1:10pm:

The morning and midday storms are fading this afternoon after dumping hail & heavy rain on the northern & eastern metro.

St. Paul streets running with water today. (MPR photo by Sam Choo)

Expect temperatures to resume the climb into the 90s today.

Here are the storm reports from today's action from Twin Cities NWS.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN

1235 PM CDT TUE JUL 19 2011

..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...

..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

..REMARKS..

0930 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 NE RONNEBY 45.71N 93.82W

07/19/2011 BENTON MN AMATEUR RADIO

BRANCHES AND LIMBS UP TO 10 INCHES IN DIAMETER DOWNED IN

OAK PARK.

1005 AM TSTM WND DMG MILACA 45.76N 93.65W

07/19/2011 MILLE LACS MN PUBLIC

SEVERAL TREES DOWN...POWER OUT.

1013 AM TSTM WND GST PRINCETON 45.57N 93.59W

07/19/2011 M56.00 MPH MILLE LACS MN AWOS

MEASURED AT PRINCETON AIRPORT.

1019 AM TSTM WND GST PRINCETON 45.57N 93.59W

07/19/2011 M58.00 MPH MILLE LACS MN AWOS

MEASURED AT AIRPORT

1020 AM TSTM WND DMG ZIMMERMAN 45.44N 93.59W

07/19/2011 SHERBURNE MN TRAINED SPOTTER

TWENTY FOUR INCH DIAMETER TREES UPROOTED. OCCURRED NEAR

205TH ST. AND COUNTY ROAD 13.

1020 AM TSTM WND DMG ZIMMERMAN 45.44N 93.59W

07/19/2011 SHERBURNE MN TRAINED SPOTTER

TWENTY FOUR INCH DIAMETER TREES TOPPLED. SOME SNAPPED IN

TWO.

1020 AM TSTM WND GST 3 SSE GLENDORADO 45.54N 93.75W

07/19/2011 M47.00 MPH SHERBURNE MN MESONET

MEASURED BY RAWS AT SHERBURN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

1020 AM TSTM WND DMG ZIMMERMAN 45.44N 93.59W

07/19/2011 SHERBURNE MN TRAINED SPOTTER

THREE INCH DIAMETER BRANCHES SEVERED. OCCURRED NEAR 19

JARVIS ST. TIME ESTIMATED.

1057 AM TSTM WND GST RAMSEY 45.26N 93.45W

07/19/2011 M56.00 MPH ANOKA MN MESONET

MEASURED AT PACT CHARTER SCHOOL

1102 AM FUNNEL CLOUD MAPLE GROVE 45.11N 93.46W

07/19/2011 HENNEPIN MN PUBLIC

OCCURRED JUST NORTH OF THE INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATES

694 AND 494.

1103 AM TSTM WND GST 2 NW ANOKA 45.23N 93.42W

07/19/2011 M59.00 MPH ANOKA MN MESONET

MEASURED AT APRSNET SITE.

1115 AM HAIL BROOKLYN PARK 45.11N 93.35W

07/19/2011 M0.88 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER

TIME ESTIMATED.

1125 AM HEAVY RAIN BROOKLYN PARK 45.11N 93.35W

07/19/2011 E0.00 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER

WATER UP TO CURB DEEP ON STREETS IN TOWN.

1133 AM HAIL NEW BRIGHTON 45.07N 93.20W

07/19/2011 M0.88 INCH RAMSEY MN TRAINED SPOTTER

OCCURRED NEAR INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATES 694 AND 35W.

1133 AM HAIL BROOKLYN CENTER 45.07N 93.32W

07/19/2011 M0.88 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER

1133 AM HAIL 2 WNW ROSEVILLE 45.03N 93.19W

07/19/2011 E1.00 INCH RAMSEY MN TRAINED SPOTTER

1134 AM HAIL NEW BRIGHTON 45.07N 93.20W

07/19/2011 M1.00 INCH RAMSEY MN TRAINED SPOTTER

OCCURRED NEAR 502 7TH ST.

1135 AM HAIL NEW BRIGHTON 45.07N 93.20W

07/19/2011 M1.00 INCH RAMSEY MN TRAINED SPOTTER

OCCURRED NEAR COUNTY ROAD E2 AND 35W.

1140 AM FLASH FLOOD SPRING LAKE PARK 45.12N 93.25W

07/19/2011 ANOKA MN TRAINED SPOTTER

OCCURRED NEAR MIDDLETON ROAD. NEARBY ROAD UNDERWATER.

1144 AM HAIL ST PAUL 44.95N 93.10W

07/19/2011 E0.88 INCH RAMSEY MN TRAINED SPOTTER

SOUTH SIDE OF LAKE COMO

1147 AM HAIL ROSEVILLE 45.02N 93.15W

07/19/2011 M1.00 INCH RAMSEY MN TRAINED SPOTTER

OCCURRED NEAR SNELLING AND HIGHWAY 46 AT THE ROSEDALE

MALL.

1155 AM HAIL ROSEVILLE 45.02N 93.15W

07/19/2011 M1.25 INCH RAMSEY MN TRAINED SPOTTER

1200 PM HEAVY RAIN ROSEVILLE 45.02N 93.15W

07/19/2011 E0.00 INCH RAMSEY MN TRAINED SPOTTER

FAIRVIEW AVE UNDERPASS FLOODED AT HIGHWAY 36

INTERSECTION. WATER UP TO 1 1/2 FEET DEEP. CAR STALLED.

1206 PM HAIL ST PAUL 44.95N 93.10W

07/19/2011 M1.25 INCH RAMSEY MN BROADCAST MEDIA

1207 PM HAIL ST PAUL 44.95N 93.10W

07/19/2011 M1.00 INCH RAMSEY MN TRAINED SPOTTER

1210 PM HAIL ST PAUL 44.95N 93.10W

07/19/2011 M0.88 INCH RAMSEY MN TRAINED SPOTTER

1218 PM HAIL MENDOTA HEIGHTS 44.88N 93.14W

07/19/2011 M0.75 INCH DAKOTA MN CO-OP OBSERVER

OCCURRED NEAR PILOT ROAD AND I494.

1227 PM HAIL MENDOTA HEIGHTS 44.88N 93.14W

07/19/2011 M1.00 INCH DAKOTA MN TRAINED SPOTTER

1228 PM HAIL WEST ST PAUL 44.90N 93.09W

07/19/2011 E0.75 INCH DAKOTA MN TRAINED SPOTTER

OCCURRED NEAR 908 LIVINGSTON AVE.

Storms now moving through metro from north to south over the next two hours.

[image]

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN

1040 AM CDT TUE JUL 19 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...

ANOKA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

NORTHEASTERN HENNEPIN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

RAMSEY COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL NOON CDT

* AT 1036 AM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM...CAPABLE OF

PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70

MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR RAMSEY...OR ABOUT 19 MILES

SOUTHWEST OF CAMBRIDGE...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...

MINNEAPOLIS...

ST PAUL...

RAMSEY...

CEDAR...

EAST BETHEL...

DAYTON...

ANDOVER...

ANOKA...

CHAMPLIN...

HAM LAKE...

COON RAPIDS...

OSSEO...

OAK PARK...

BROOKLYN PARK...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS

STORM...PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR DESTRUCTIVE WINDS...WHICH CAN UPROOT

TREES...DOWN POWER LINES...AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO ROOFS AND WINDOWS.

EVACUATE MOBILE HOMES AS THEY MAY BE OVERTURNED. LARGE HAIL IS ALSO

EXPECTED...WHICH CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO VEHICLES AND WINDOWS. SEEK

SHELTER NOW INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE

WARNING. PREPARE TO MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A STURDY STRUCTURE

SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED.

WIND DAMAGE WITH THIS STORM MAY OCCUR AHEAD OF ANY RAIN OR

LIGHTNING. DO NOT WAIT FOR THE SOUND OF THUNDER BEFORE TAKING COVER.

SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM

WINDOWS.

MPX: Princeton [Mille Lacs Co, MN] awos reports TSTM WND GST of M58 MPH at 10:19 AM CDT -- measured at airport

MPX: Princeton [Mille Lacs Co, MN] awos reports TSTM WND GST of M56 MPH at 10:13 AM CDT -- measured at princeton airport.

MPX: Milaca [Mille Lacs Co, MN] public reports TSTM WND DMG at 10:05 AM CDT -- several trees down...power out.

MPX: 3 Ne Ronneby [Benton Co, MN] amateur radio reports TSTM WND DMG at 09:30 AM CDT -- branches and limbs up to 10 inches in diameter downed in oak park.

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN

1009 AM CDT TUE JUL 19 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...

ANOKA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

SOUTHEASTERN SHERBURNE COUNTY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 1045 AM CDT

* AT 1008 AM CDT...RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM...CAPABLE OF

PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 65 MPH.

THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ZIMMERMAN...OR ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTH OF

PRINCETON...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...

BIG LAKE...

ELK RIVER...

ST FRANCIS...

RAMSEY...

CEDAR...

ANDOVER...

HAM LAKE...

EAST BETHEL...

CENTERVILLE...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR

DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH AND LARGE HAIL. SEEK SHELTER NOW

INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

Update 10am:

Radar indicating strongest storms near Milaca heading southeast toward Princeton. Possible Tornado Vortex Signature (TVS) on radar. Damaging winds and possible tornado with this storm!

PH

[image]

Update 9:15 am:

SPC has issued a severe T-Storm Watch until 3pm including the Twin Cities metro area and much of western Wisconsin.

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 662

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

910 AM CDT TUE JUL 19 2011

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA

NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN

EFFECTIVE THIS TUESDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON FROM 910 AM UNTIL

300 PM CDT.

HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70

MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 55

STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 70 MILES NORTH

NORTHWEST OF MINNEAPOLIS MINNESOTA TO 60 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF

EAU CLAIRE WISCONSIN. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE

THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE

FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH

AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR

THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS

AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY

DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.

DISCUSSION...PERSISTENT MCS MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL MN HAS DEVELOPED

SUPERCELL STRUCTURES ALONG ITS SRN FLANK. THE ENVIRONMENT

DOWNSTREAM ALONG THE STALLED SURFACE FRONT REMAINS STRONGLY UNSTABLE BASED ON THE 12Z MPX SOUNDING...WITH SUFFICIENT VERTICAL SHEAR TO MAINTAIN AN ORGANIZED CLUSTER CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT

TO 2 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60

KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 650. MEAN STORM

MOTION VECTOR 31025.

...THOMPSON

Hazard Tornadoes EF2+ Tornadoes Likelihood Low Very Low

Severe Wind 65 kt+ Wind Moderate Moderate

Severe Hail 2"+ Hail Moderate Moderate

***

The heat wave of 2011 rolls on, and the hottest air may be yet to come by Wednesday.

The excessive heat warning continues.

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN

421 AM CDT TUE JUL 19 2011

...EXCESSIVE HEAT AND HUMIDITY CONTINUING THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.DUE TO A PROLONGED PERIOD OF THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY...AN

EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN

MINNESOTA...INCLUDING THE TWIN CITIES...AND ALL OF WEST CENTRAL

WISCONSIN...THROUGH 9 PM ON WEDNESDAY.

AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES WILL EXCEED 105 DEGREES FOR SEVERAL HOURS

BOTH TODAY AND WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...WITH OVERNIGHT LOW

TEMPERATURES ONLY FALLING INTO THE MIDDLE 70S TO LOWER 80S.

THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL

COMBINE TO CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES

ARE LIKELY. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED

ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES...

NEIGHBORS...AND PETS.

Storm chances today. There is a slight risk for severe storms today, with the best chances for a severe storm with high winds, heavy rain & hail just north & east of the Twin Cities.

-Latest Twin Cities radar loop

Some numbers on our heat wave so far:

81 degrees - tied the all time record dew point value for the Twin Cities Sunday at 9pm (pending official confirmation)

6 days at or above 90 degrees at MSP Airport this month

10 days at or above 90 degrees so far in 2011

13 days at or above 90 degrees in an "average" year at MSP Airport.

50+ number of Twins fans treated for heat related symptoms Monday at Target Filed

23 states under heat advisories today

RECORD EVENT REPORT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHANHASSEN MN

203 AM CDT TUE JUL 19 2011

...A NEW RECORD WARMEST MINIMUM /OR WARMEST LOW TEMPERATURE/ FOR THE TWIN CITIES OF MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN WAS SET YESTERDAY...

THE LOW TEMPERATURE AT MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS 80 DEGREES YESTERDAY JULY 18 2011.

THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD WARM LOW OF 79 DEGREES SET IN 1986.

RECORD EVENT REPORT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHANHASSEN MN

205 AM CDT TUE JUL 19 2011

...A TIE FOR THE RECORD WARMEST MINIMUM /OR WARMEST LOW TEMPERATURE FOR EAU CLAIRE WISCONSIN WAS TIED YESTERDAY...

THE LOW TEMPERATURE AT EAU CLAIRE WAS 76 DEGREES YESTERDAY

JULY 18 2011.

THIS TIES FOR THE FIRST TIME...THE WARMEST LOW TEMP FOR THE DATE OF

JULY 18TH.

THE ORIGINAL WARM LOW OF 76 WAS SET IN 1942.

The core of the "thermal ridge" will pass directly over Minnesota Wednesday afternoon. Temps could reach or exceed 100 degrees late Wednesday in southern Minnesota. Heat index values will again push into the 110 degree range.

Relief in sight!

A weak cool front will slide through Minnesota Thursday. The front should drop temps about 10 degrees, and may push dew points form the upper 70s to the upper 50s by late Thursday!

Temperatures may fall into the mid 80s by Thursday.

Dew points in the upper 50s?

If the dew points fall into the 50s, you'll really notice a big drop in humidity. There will literally be about half as much water in the air over Minnesota s we have today.

Hang in there, some relief is 48 hours away!

PH