‘Unhealthy’ air quality expected in eastern Minnesota through Monday afternoon due to wildfire smoke

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Except for isolated showers and storms Thursday morning, dry weather prevails in the upcoming forecast, which will only serve to deepen the ever-worsening drought Minnesota is experiencing. 

The newest drought monitor came out Thursday morning, for data compiled through Tuesday, and there is little good news.  

Portions of eastern and southern Minnesota did get heavier rainfall late last week and over the past weekend. And there are a couple areas of minor drought improvements along the Wisconsin border and in southern Minnesota.  

However, much of the state missed that soaking and portions of northern Minnesota were missed entirely by the rainfall. 

This caused large expansions of “extreme” or great drought in central and northern Minnesota, from 35 percent last week to 42 percent this week. 

(For comparison, last week’s map is inset right.) 

Within that area, 7 percent of northwestern Minnesota is now in the highest drought category of “exceptional.” 

weekly records for Minnesota drought conditions

 on its website going back to January 2000. This is the first time in any of those weekly reports since 2000 that any of Minnesota has been listed in the "exceptional" drought category. It is also the first time since 2006 that so much of the state has been in the “extreme” or greater category. 

Much like Wednesday, Minnesota is starting the day Thursday with a weak cold front moving across the state. 

As of 10 a.m., it is bringing a line of rain showers and a few storms across southern Minnesota, most of has just passed through the Twin Cities.

The rain should completely clear south of the state by late morning, and rain totals will be predominantly under a tenth of an inch.

Morning temperatures varied from 50s north to a few 70s south.  

By the afternoon, there will be a large temperature contrast, with northern Minnesota getting the brunt of the cooler air and making it only into the 60s, while southern Minnesota sees low 80s for highs.  

The cold front reinforces the drier air and low humidity that previous fronts had already brought back to Minnesota. Afternoon humidity levels will be low, in the 20 and 30 percent range. 

Behind the front there will be gusty winds by the afternoon, with much of the state seeing gusts of 20 to 30 mph or higher. 

This combination of dry and windy conditions puts northern Minnesota in an elevated fire risk Thursday afternoon.

In the wake of Thursday’s cold front, Minnesota will start the day Friday a bit cool for August, with lows in the 40s north and 50s south. Most of the state can expect highs in the 70s, but portions of the Arrowhead will be stuck in the 60s again. 

For the weekend, most of Minnesota makes it back into the 80s again, and the humidity starts nudging up again by Sunday.

Here is that forecast for the Twin Cities:

Meanwhile, rain chances remain extremely limited. A storm system may clip the very southern edge of Minnesota on Saturday, but otherwise, the current forecast if for predominantly dry weather through the middle of next week. 

Here is the rainfall forecast through Tuesday afternoon showing the dry trend:

These conditions will continue to worsen the already devastating drought.  

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:48 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Nicole Mitchell 

Author

Except for isolated showers and storms Thursday morning, dry weather prevails in the upcoming forecast, which will only serve to deepen the ever-worsening drought Minnesota is experiencing.

Exceptional drought hits Minnesota for the first time in years

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