Steamy, stormy summer solstice

The summer solstice arrives with intense heat, soaring dew points and dangerous heat indices climbing into the triple digits. Meanwhile, strong to severe storms are expected to sweep through northern Minnesota late Friday night.

Sweltering heat for summer solstice

Summer arrives at 9:42 p.m. Friday night, and this weekend will certainly feel like it. Temperatures are expected to soar into the 90s, with some triple-digit readings possible Sunday in southwestern Minnesota.

The humidity will make it feel sticky and muggy with dew points climbing into the 60s and 70s.

The prolonged heat and humidity have prompted both an extreme heat warning and a heat advisory for much of the state, effective from noon Saturday through 9 p.m. Sunday.

The temperature combined with the dew point will create heat indices in the triple digits this weekend.

For more information on dew points and relative humidity, check out this post from our Updraft blog.

Stormy setup for Friday night

Surface analysis for Friday shows a frontal boundary stretching across the state. Storms are expected to develop north of this front late Friday night, originating in North Dakota before tracking eastward into northern Minnesota, mainly after 9 p.m. into the overnight.

These storms will then merge into a few bow echoes before gradually fading out in the early hours of Saturday.

Northern Minnesota faces an enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) for large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.

Overall, it will be a sticky, stormy weekend with multiple chances for strong to severe storms and dangerous heat. Please stay weather aware and take necessary precautions.