Unsettled Wednesday, then cooler before heating up next week

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Parts of Minnesota are gearing up for one final round of scattered thunderstorms before a prolonged stretch of hot, dry summer weather settles across the region.

Storm chances out west, heat builds this weekend

Lingering cloud cover will stick around early Friday across parts of western and southwestern Minnesota after a complex of thunderstorms rolled through the Dakotas overnight. 

We'll catch a break from the active weather through much of the morning, but the atmosphere will recharge this afternoon, allowing scattered thunderstorms to redevelop, mainly across western and central Minnesota. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center has placed western Minnesota under a marginal risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe weather, meaning a few of the stronger storms could produce large hail.

Temperatures will be close to our seasonal highs, climbing into the 80s with dew points in the upper 50s to low 60s. We will manage a few more comfortable days before the heat really builds in. 

Once Friday’s storms move out, the weather pattern shifts dramatically. High pressure building over the Plains will expand into the Upper Midwest, bringing a prolonged period of dry weather through the weekend and likely into at least the middle of next week.

Beginning this weekend and continuing through at least Wednesday, afternoon highs will climb into the lower 90s across much of Minnesota. Heat index values could approach 100 degrees, particularly across western Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro area.

Unlike the late-June heat wave, humidity levels may remain somewhat lower, preventing heat index values from becoming even more oppressive. 

It's not just the heat you'll need to watch out for, the UV index will also be very high over the next several days, so don’t forget the sunscreen.

The hot, dry pattern is expected to continue through at least Tuesday. Forecast guidance suggests cold fronts may begin returning toward the latter part of next week, bringing the next opportunity for showers and thunderstorms and, hopefully, some relief from the heat.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Mandy Thalhuber

Author

Parts of Minnesota are gearing up for one final round of scattered thunderstorms before a prolonged stretch of hot, dry summer weather settles across the region.


Final round of storms before a large stretch of summer heat arrives

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