The heat was on in the Twin Cities and across the southern half of the state Monday, as some areas posted the hottest day of the year so far.
Those who ventured outside did their best to stay cool: Pools and beaches across the metro were packed by early afternoon, and crowds attending the Taste of Minnesota in downtown Minneapolis did what they could to avoid the sun.
"I think we have to stay in the shade," said Peter Biegler of Golden Valley, who was at the music and food festival with his wife, Lisa, and children Pierce, 2, and Liviane, 4 — who got to eat ice cream for lunch.
By early afternoon, thermometers in the Twin Cities raced past 90 degrees for the 12th time this summer, the National Weather Service said. The high was 95 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport; this year's previous high was 92.
But Monday served up some of the highest humidity levels, too, making it feel closer to 100 degrees. That combination led the the National Weather Service to issue its first heat advisory of the season.
The advisory was in effect from 1 to 7 p.m., covering the seven-county metro along with Sherburne, Isanti, Chisago and Wright counties, where sultry conditions were expected to make it feel like 95 degrees or warmer for at least three hours — the criteria for issuing such advisories, said Ryan Dunleavy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Chanhassen.
Such extremes — whether hot or cold — are part of living in the Midwest, said Jacob Erichsen, 42, of northeast Minneapolis.
"This type of weather doesn't keep me inside, but I don't love it," he said as he waited at the Stone Arch Bridge to meet a friend for lunch.