Minnesotans seek relief at pools, cooling centers as dangerous heat grips state
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Dangerously hot conditions swamped much of Minnesota on Monday, with authorities urging people to take precautions to stay safe amid the sweltering weather.
While some Minnesotans stayed inside air-conditioned homes or offices, others headed for pools, splash pads and beaches.
At a wading pool in a north Minneapolis park, Jene Jones watched her son and younger brother splash in the water.
“They’ve been dying to get out here to the pool,” Jones said. “We’re finally out here.”
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Others looked for relief in smaller ways: ice cream, shade, water bottles and short breaks from the sun. But officials warned that the heat was dangerous, especially for people without reliable access to air conditioning.
The volatile mix of heat and humidity also helped fuel severe storms across the northern half of the state, with reports of funnel clouds, large hail and damaging winds.
An extreme heat warning was in place through late Monday night for the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Hinckley, Willmar and Mankato — and until Tuesday night for Rochester and Winona. Temperatures were forecast to reach the 90s — with heat index readings above 100 degrees.
Heat advisories covered much of the rest of central and southern Minnesota.
Rachel Sayre, emergency management director for the city of Minneapolis, said her team was prepared for the dangerous heat, and monitoring for where help might be needed.
She said people need to take the extreme heat seriously and adjust their plans to stay safe.
“One, really try to limit your activity to morning and evening hours,” she said. “Two, drink way more fluids — and when I say fluids, I mean water, not caffeine, not alcohol — than you think you need. Wear sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, take a lot of breaks.”
Hennepin County and Ramsey County both have maps online showing cooling centers available to the public.
The Salvation Army in the Twin Cities said it was opening its seven Twin Cities service centers as cooling centers during the heat wave.
Hennepin and Ramsey counties had online maps showing cooling centers available to the public. In downtown St. Paul, the Dorothy Day Center offered cold water, showers, food and a cool indoor space for people feeling the effects of the heat.
Elizabeth Hager, with Catholic Charities, which runs the shelter, said the center expected to serve hundreds of people.
“The number we’re expecting is likely probably around 600 folks due to the heat,” Hager said. “It's really making sure that folks can come here and get what they need.”
For people experiencing homelessness, Warren Kettner said places like Dorothy Day are essential during extreme weather.
“It can be very unpredictable,” Kettner said. “Without these places, it would be hard for people to have a clean space, clean body.”
Officials also urged people to check on friends, family and neighbors — especially the elderly — and to make sure pets have a cool place to stay.
Even in the heat, some outdoor work continued. Landscaper Pedro Rivera said that as a native of El Salvador, he was used to temperatures in the 90s, but planned to stop working by midafternoon.
Severe storms
Tornado sirens sounded Monday in parts of central and northern Minnesota, as a line of destructive storms swept across the region.
There were no immediate confirmed reports of tornado touchdowns in Minnesota. But the storms produced wind gusts of 75 mph and dropped half-dollar-size hail at Wadena just after 11 a.m. There were also reports of wind gusts of 60 mph or greater near Foxhome, Tenney and Federal Dam.
As of early afternoon, several thousand homes and businesses were without power across the state.
That same complex of storms produced winds in excess of 100 mph — including reported gusts of 131 mph — as they raced across South Dakota earlier in the morning.
Find more forecast details on MPR Weather’s Updraft blog.
