Record hot again Saturday; heat wave and mostly dry well into next week
Heat wave ramps up
Yes, it really is that hot out there. Our rhubarb plants look pitiful and even the peonies that have been blooming are wilting. Saturday set high temperature records for the second day in a row. The day is not done and more numbers will come in, but the Twin Cities smashed the old high temperature record of 92 by warming to at least 99 (the 4 p.m. temperature). St. Cloud likewise set a record by reaching at least 97.
Numerous locations in the western half of Minnesota have reached the 100-degree mark, including Canby, Moorhead, Litchfield, Hutchinson and Redwood Falls. As of the 5 p.m. readings, Montevideo and Willmar reported 102, Granite Falls was 103 and Madison seems to be the hot spot with 106 degrees. Those are actual temperatures, not “feels like” computations.
Dew points have come up a bit since Friday but aren’t too sweaty.
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Hot Sunday
Sunday will start off with a very warm morning, probably with a low around 75 in the Twin Cities. Then expect another toasty day, but maybe not quite as hot for most of the state. Look for highs from the mid 80s to mid 90s. The Twin Cities should reach about 94 and the dew point will rise by late in the day.
With the warm night and heat expected for Sunday in the Twin Cities urban heat island, the National Weather Service will continue its heat advisory for the seven-county Twin Cities metro area until about sunset on Sunday.
Some thunderstorms possible
Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms have been crossing central Minnesota from west to east this Saturday afternoon. They should continue to pass north of the Twin Cities area.
A few strong or even marginally severe storms with hail and strong winds might pop in the northwest corner Saturday evening.
Thunderstorms are possible on Sunday due to the hot temperatures and an advancing weak cold front. Some storms could become strong or even severe during the late afternoon or evening.
The heat wave continues next week, with little rain
High temperatures through about next Thursday will be mainly from the mid 80s to the mid 90s.
The Twin Cities next chance for a high temperature not reaching the low or mid 90s might be next Friday.
There will be a few chances of spotty rain, but significant rainfalls are not expected unless we get lucky next Thursday or Friday as the heat wave weakens. The seven-day precipitation outlook through 7 p.m. next Saturday indicates very little rainfall likely for nearly all of Minnesota. Only areas along the far north edge of the state are projected to pick up half an inch of rain over the next week.
