Beautiful, smoke-free Monday; chances of rain Tuesday night-Wednesday
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A cold front pushed the wildfire smoke out of southern Minnesota Sunday night. Air quality is looking good (green) statewide for Monday.
That cold front is well south of Minnesota this Monday morning.
Behind the front, a cooler northwest breeze will bring comfortable temperatures and low humidities for Monday. Scattered afternoon showers and possibly thunderstorms will dampen parts of northeastern Minnesota.
Afternoon highs will be in the 60s in northeastern Minnesota and 70s for most of the state. The Twin Cities should have a high near 76 on a day with an average high of 84. Winds will pick up to 10 to 20 mph from the northwest.
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Rain needed badly as the drought worsens
The first half of July was very dry statewide. The Twin Cities’ official measurement at the airport was about three-quarters of an inch. The National Weather Service office in Chanhassen reported less than half an inch. The average rainfall for the Twin Cities area for the first half of July is more than two inches.
Meanwhile, Redwood Falls, Mankato and St. Cloud got only about half an inch. Brainerd came up with just two-tenths of an inch. Duluth measured a scant third of an inch but fortunately enjoyed a wet June. International Falls fared a bit better but still got just three-quarters of an inch of rain.
Rain for much of the state by Wednesday
Scattered showers and thunderstorms appear likely for Tuesday night and Wednesday. And while the showers are likely to be scattered, it looks like most of Minnesota will get at least some rain. And some spots could pick up a half inch or more.
There is also a marginal (level 1 of 5) risk of severe weather across a swath of Minnesota and into western Wisconsin on Wednesday along and ahead of a cold front that will be crossing the state.
It looks as though there might be other chances of scattered showers next weekend.
Warmer the rest of the week
A brief warming trend will come our way for Tuesday and Wednesday with some highs moving up into the 80s. Thursday should cool a bit before we heat up toward the weekend.
The following week looks even warmer. Some of that heat dome that has spread from Texas to the West Coast will make a turn in our direction. Temperatures during the week of July 24 to 30 seem likely to be warmer than normal. That would probably mean some highs into the 90s.
