Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

90 degrees in the Twin Cities; scattered thunderstorms increase Wednesday

Tuesday is the 12th day of 90-degree heat in the Twin Cities this year

Temperatures at MSP Airport
Weather conditions Tuesday afternoon at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

It’s another steamy summer-in-September day around most of Minnesota. Our air mass on Tuesday is closer to record temperatures than normal for this time of year.

The Twin Cities hit 90 degrees for the 12th time this year Tuesday afternoon. The average high at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for Sept. 16 is 73 degrees, so we’re running 17 degrees warmer than normal. We’re much closer to the record high of 94 set in 1955 than we are to normal for this time of year.

Minnesota this week is riding the northern edge of a still summery air mass through the central United States.

Temperatures
Temperatures Tuesday afternoon
Oklahoma Mesonet

Highs Wednesday will be a few degrees less hot than Tuesday, but temperatures will still run into the 70s and 80s across Minnesota Wednesday afternoon.

Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
Forecast high temperatures Wednesday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Scattered thunderstorms Wednesday

A weak low-pressure system will spin from South Dakota toward Minnesota Wednesday. Scattered thunderstorms will develop ahead of the system. The best chance for scattered rain and thunder is across western Minnesota, but storms could reach the Twin Cities Wednesday afternoon and evening.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s NAM 3 km model shows the trend:

NOAA NAM 3 km model
North American Mesoscale 3 km model between 1 p.m. Wednesday and 1 a.m. Thursday
NOAA, via Tropical Tidbits

Severe weather does not look likely Wednesday but a few cells could bring heavy downpours, lightning, thunder and gusty winds along with some small hail.

Occasional scattered thunderstorms remain in the forecast for the next few days.

Stay tuned.