Heat in the West builds east toward the Upper Midwest

Milder air from a warmup across the western United States is beginning to spread east, setting the stage for rising temperatures across the Upper Midwest.

Heat builds east

Across the desert Southwest and California, temperatures are running 20 to 35 degrees above average with some locations reaching the triple digits, levels more typical of early summer than mid-March.

Record highs have already been set in Phoenix, Palm Springs and other cities as a strong high-pressure ridge, often referred to as a “heat dome,” remains in place over the West.

As we head into the coming days, this western ridge will begin to expand east into the Plains. That shift will allow milder Pacific air to spread into the Upper Midwest.

Looking at temperatures around midday Thursday, parts of the central Plains are already running above average in the 70s and 80s, with several more hours of warming still ahead.

Temperatures on Friday will climb back into the 60s across Minnesota’s southwestern corner with a few spots possibly nearing 70 degrees. The Twin Cities region is expected to reach the mid-50s while mid-40s extend all the way to the Canadian border.

Our warmest day arrives Sunday with temperatures reaching the upper 60s to near 70 degrees, typical of mid-May. If the Twin Cities reaches 70, it would be the first time since Nov. 14. Southwestern parts of the state could approach 80 degrees under this latest heat dome.

It’s back to reality Sunday as a cold front returns 30s and 40s to the region.

This front could trigger some showers and possibly a wintry mix in northeastern Minnesota.

After a week marked by winter’s final push across the Midwest, the atmosphere sure is flipping the script.