Records tumble as a heatwave hits Minnesota

Record heat grips Minnesota through the weekend, and combined with mostly dry conditions, it raises fire and air quality concerns.

Friday and Saturday

Minnesota started Friday very warm for early June. There are a few 50s in the Arrowhead and central Minnesota, but most of the state is starting in the 60s. A few places never dropped out of the 70s, including parts of the Twin Cities. Even more places will start Saturday in the 70s.

These morning lows will set records in many places for “high minimums.” For example, the Twin Cities only dropped to 73 Friday morning, and the previous warmest low temperature for June 4 was 70.

Daytime highs will also run far above average, with much of Minnesota at least 20 degrees above average and in the 90s. Western Minnesota could see a few 100s both days. 

This will set record highs around the state. On Friday alone, places that will see highs right near the record include the Twin Cities, Rochester, and International Falls, which have records of 96, 93, and 92 respectively. In western Minnesota, Moorhead could shatter the current record of 95.

In addition to setting records, the heat contributes to several concerns in addition to heat illness. 

The combination of heat and low humidity has much of northern and western Minnesota under either a red flag warning (pink) or fire weather watch (beige) Friday, and there may be additional fire-related watches or warnings issued Saturday.

The sunny, hot conditions will trigger an air quality alert Friday for areas around the Twin Cities.

After a dry and mostly sunny day Friday, a few showers and storms start moving across northern Minnesota by Friday evening and through the day Saturday.

The heat could help fuel a couple of isolated severe storms either day, with damaging wind as the primary risk. Large hail is also possible.

Staying hot

Sunday morning starts off very warm for all of Minnesota, with much of the state forecast to start the day in the 70s, setting more records for the daily lows being so warm. 

During the day, the heat breaks by a couple degrees thanks to a slight pattern change plus a few more clouds. Most of the state will still be in the 90s, but it is enough for northern Minnesota to see a few spots drop into the 80s, and western Minnesota is less likely to see 100s.

The week ahead does still stay much hotter than usual for early June though, with mostly 80s north and upper 80s and low 90s south.

By next week, the current mostly dry trend starts to turn a little more active. Most of Minnesota has a chance for scattered showers or storms by Sunday afternoon or evening, along with an isolated severe weather risk. Occasional showers or storms are then possible much of the week, especially in the afternoon and evening hours.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.