UFO shelf cloud dazzles Twin Cities; heat wave setting up next week
A string of highs in the 90s looks likely next week
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It looked like the end of the world.
But Tuesday evening’s amazing shelf cloud was more beautiful than severe.
The highly photogenic shelf cloud at the leading edge of Tuesday evening’s storm was caused by the rain-cooled downdraft from the inbound thunderstorm. Sven Sundgaard did a nice explainer here and MPR News reporter Tim Nelson assembled some great images here. Check them out if you haven’t seen them yet.
Weather nirvana today
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It’s a drama-free weather Wednesday today in Minnesota. A weak bubble of high pressure is giving us a lovely day across most of our state. A mix of a few clouds and deep blue summer skies will yield highs in the 80s south with mostly 70s north Wednesday afternoon.
Throw in comfy dew points in the upper 50s and low 60s and light winds and you’ve got the recipe for a near-perfect summer day.
Storm chances Thursday night and Friday morning?
Our next chance for some needed rainfall across central and southern Minnesota arrives Thursday night into early Friday. Forecast models like the American GFS and European are painting scattered thunderstorms across central and southern Minnesota Thursday night into Friday morning. Coverage looks spotty, but some lucky lawns and fields could pick up a decent soaking by midday Friday.
Here’s NOAA’s GFS model output between 7 p.m. Thursday and 1 p.m. Friday.
Heat next week
Forecast models are still building the eastern edge of the massive western heat dome into Minnesota next week. Right now the best read suggests four days near or above 90 degrees for the Twin Cities and most of western and southern Minnesota between Sunday and next Wednesday.
Here’s a look at the European model temperatures for 7 p.m. next Tuesday.
The European model cranks out a peak temperature of 98 degrees for the Twin Cities next Tuesday. The best chance for highs to reach 100 degrees favors South Dakota and western Minnesota.
Stay tuned.
