Severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings issued for Twin Cities metro area

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On Sunday, the splash pad at Harmon Park in West St. Paul was bustling with little kids running around in colorful swimsuits and sweating parents, like Laura Maki, sitting in the shade.

“Imagine you just took a really, really hot shower with the door closed, and you just stepped out of the shower, and that’s just how it feels outside,” Maki said.

Throughout the weekend, the Twin Cities and surrounding areas were under an extreme heat advisory with highs in the mid to upper 90s and some spots in western Minnesota potentially hitting 100 degrees.

According to National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Borghoff, staying cool requires a team effort.

“Check on neighbors, relatives, friends throughout the day to see how they’re doing,” Borghoff said. “If they need assistance and you’re able to try to get them to a cooling center or hang out with them at the mall or something. Anything to try to stay cool today.”

Cooling centers are open across the Twin Cities.

Cooling options website

Cooling center locations

But if you’re outside, pools and splash pads, like the one Maki brought her two kids to, are a good way to beat the heat. Still, she made sure to be prepared.

“We’ve definitely been doing a lot more stuff indoors,” she said. “Yesterday we were doing indoor activities. We'll stay indoors for the rest of the day. We’re leaving here shortly, and we’re definitely on top of sunscreen and making sure we have water available.”

Weather officials recommend staying indoors, drinking lots of water, finding AC and staying in the safe. Borghoff also says if you start to recognize the signs of heat illness like muscle cramps, nausea, fatigue or change in pulse, seek medical attention.

On Monday, temperatures are expected to be significantly cooler.

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Kyra Miles

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An extreme heat advisory for the Twin Cities remains in effect until Sunday evening.

A busy splash park with families in the water.

Weather officials note beating the heat is a 'team effort'

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