Heat looms as we head toward the weekend
The pattern change also turns Minnesota much drier again
As the isolated showers and storms lingering in eastern Minnesota wind down Tuesday evening, the state heads into a much drier pattern again, and the heat builds back in by late week.
Tuesday night and Wednesday
The upper-level trough of lower pressure that had been influencing Minnesota’s weather since Saturday finally shifted to the east Tuesday, bringing most of the recent wetter weather along with it. Behind that area of instability, a few spotty showers and storms lingered Tuesday, predominantly in eastern Minnesota, but any remaining precipitation is expected to end by late evening, after the heat of the day.
Under dry and mostly clear skies overnight, temperatures will drop into the 50s north and 60s south by Wednesday morning.
Northern Minnesota may see a couple isolated showers or storms Wednesday afternoon, but otherwise the state is falling under a much drier pattern again, which also includes lower humidity with dew points back in the 50s.
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Skies stay mostly sunny Wednesday, allowing highs for much of the state to make it into the mid and upper 80s.
Hot by the holiday
An easterly flow cools the Arrowhead into the 70s Thursday and Friday and drops the rest of eastern Minnesota by a couple degrees into the lower 80s.
However, a ridge of higher pressure starts building over the northern plains that will return the hotter weather to western Minnesota already Thursday and Friday, with a few spots likely to hit 90.
The entire state falls under that hotter pattern by the weekend, with most of Minnesota in the upper 80s and 90s through Monday.
Here is that forecast for the Twin Cities:
It looks likely that Minnesota will see above-average temperatures most of next week also.
Drier weather also prevails, and that combination of hot and dry weather will continue to exacerbate Minnesota’s drought conditions. The next statewide chance for rain may come next Monday.
We will keep you updated on that possibility as we get closer to next week.
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.