September-like Thursday with more showers possible late Friday

We’ll have sunshine with below-normal temperatures and dew points Thursday. Showers are possible late Friday and Friday night before largely clearing out for Saturday and Sunday. 

September-like Thursday, then summer warmth returning 

It was downright cool for mid-July with early morning temperatures in the 40s and 50s before sunrise Thursday morning. The Twin Cities tied a record low of 52-degrees set back in 1976 and so did International Falls (42 set in 1918). This is only the third time since the year 2000 that the Twin Cities has been this cool or cooler in the month of July. In the 1990s alone we did so 16 times. It’s a staggering example of just how much summer nights have warmed in a generation.

We’ll have sunshine and afternoon highs in the low to mid-70s across the state. Those readings are 5 to 15 degrees cooler than normal for what should be hottest time of year.

Clouds increase Friday and temperatures will again be in the 70s. The next disturbance will bring showers to northern Minnesota during the day with showers and storms developing for central and southern Minnesota in the midday, afternoon and evening hours into Friday night.

There’s even a marginal risk (level 1 of 5) of an isolated severe storm or two Friday across portions of southern Minnesota.

The weekend is looking pretty nice with near-normal temperatures and sunshine Saturday afternoon and Sunday with mainly dry weather. 

Things could be heating back up next week as Minnesota finds itself on the northern edge of a developing heat dome. Highs should be in the upper 80s to perhaps near 90 degrees again by midweek for at least central and southern Minnesota.