Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Isolated storms and 90 degrees likely Wednesday

Marginal severe risk Wednesday just north of the Twin Cities

Severe weather risk areas Wednesday
Severe weather risk areas Wednesday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Iowa Emergency Management

August is getting a little hot and thundery this week.

A marginal (level 1 of 5) risk for severe storms is in place Wednesday from about the northern Twin Cities to Alexandria to the North Shore. (map above)

The atmosphere over Minnesota will be unstable enough to produce a few isolated storms that could approach severe limits Wednesday. Remember that severe criteria are 1-inch diameter hail or larger and winds of 58 mph or higher.

Isolated storms

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Research and Forecasting model is typical of several that develop isolated thunderstorms during the day Wednesday. The loop below runs between noon and 7 p.m. Wednesday.

NOAA WRF model
Weather Research and Forecasting model between noon and 7 p.m. Wednesday.
NOAA, via Tropical Tidbits

Notice how spotty the storm coverage is likely to be Wednesday.

Heat builds

Any storms that form Wednesday will have plenty of heat to feed off of. Highs will reach the lower 90s across much of southern and western Minnesota Wednesday afternoon.

Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
NOAA

Thursday may be a few degrees hotter.

Forecast high temperatures Thursday
Forecast high temperatures Thursday
NOAA