Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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Lazy, hazy, crazy. The Dog Days of summer return to Minnesota this weekend.

In a normal year, I would be pointing out that the Minnesota State Fair begins three weeks from Thursday. But the year we call 2020 is anything but normal. 

Still, our weather patterns seem blissfully unaware of how much has changed this year. Tropical southerly breezes blow again in the coming days. Your favorite lake or beach awaits.

The Minnesota-Iowa border is about 945 miles due north of the Gulf of Mexico. It doesn’t take long for steamy tropical Gulf moisture to blow north into Minnesota in summer. That process begins again Thursday. By Friday, dew points in Minnesota will push 70 degrees once again. 

NOAA’s GFS model tracks the dew point surge in the next 48 hours.

Our warming trend peaks this weekend. Highs reach 85 to 90 across southern Minnesota Friday through Sunday. The best shot at hitting 90 again in the Twin Cities appears to be Sunday.

Our tropical airmass will be capable of scattered thunderstorms this weekend. The most likely timing appears to be overnight. The Canadian model captures the essence of storm clusters roving the Upper Midwest this weekend.

Next week looks less humid once again. Another shot of heat appears likely in about two weeks. Some of our most enjoyable summer weather of the year typically occurs in August. 

At least that appears to be holding true in 2020.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

A warmer and more humid air mass blows into Minnesota this weekend.

Christine T. Nguyen | MPR News

Huttner, Paul

NOAA GFS dew point forecast through Friday evening

NOAA via tropical tidbits

NOAA

Canadian model between Friday night and Sunday night

Summer resumes regular programming

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