Evacuation orders expanded near Ely, air quality alert for most of Minnesota

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As a heat wave continues across the Upper Midwest this week, some people are taking precautions — but still heading outside. 

An extreme heat warning remains in effect for the Twin Cities — and much of the rest of central Minnesota — through Thursday night.

On Monday, temperatures were in the 90s in downtown St. Paul. Samba Fall, who chairs the state’s Health Services Advisory Council, was wearing a suit outside — and had a positive outlook on the heat.

“It reminds me of home,” Fall said. “I’m from Africa. I was born and raised in Senegal. I kind of miss that, being in Minnesota. So the 100 degrees — I’m like, ‘yes.’”

“It kind of revitalized my DNA,” he said with a laugh.

Fall said 26 years in the U.S. haven’t changed his roots — though he noted that “after a while, being in Minnesota with 30-below-zeros, lots of snow — when the heat comes about, it kind of hits that nervous system.”

Fall may be used to the heat, but he said people need to stay hydrated and stay inside as much as they can during the heat wave.

Scott Walsh of Minneapolis said he limits his young children’s time outside, and sun exposure — and makes sure they are wearing sunscreen. But still, “we got a cheap blow-up pool, put it in the backyard in the shade, and the kids had a great time out there. And Mom and Dad got to rest and relax for a little bit ... with our feet in the pool as the kids had a good time.”

St. Paul resident Emily Johnson said she hates the heat. But her dog had other plans — forcing her out of the air conditioning.

“My dog — he runs the show here. He’s the most important thing,” she said. “He has to go out, we have to go out.”

Johnson said her perfect temperature is a 75-degree day. 

“I want to be able to like actually be in the sun, and I feel like you have to be in the shade all the time” during the heat wave,” she said. “I want the vitamin D, but it’s too hot to be in direct sunlight.”

If you plan to go outside, experts say to stay hydrated, put on sunscreen and take cooling breaks.

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Ahmed Hassan

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As a heat wave continues across the Upper Midwest this week, some people are taking precautions — but still heading outside. 


As a heat wave continues across the Upper Midwest this week, some people are taking precautions -- but still heading outside. 

Minnesotans brave the hot weather as extreme heat warning continues

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