Key Messages

Forecast Uncertainties

Important Updates

Heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year. Heat can be very taxing on the body; check out the heat related illnesses that can occur with even a short period of exposure. Everyone can be vulnerable to heat, but some more so than others. According to The Impacts Of Climate Change On Human Health In The United States: A Scientific Assessment the following groups are particularly vulnerable to heat; check in with friends and relatives who fall in one of these populations, especially if they don't have air conditioning.

It is NEVER safe to leave a child, disabled person or pet locked in a car, even in the winter. If you have a toddler in your household, lock your cars, even in your own driveway. Kids play in cars or wander outside and get into a car and can die in 10 minutes! A reported 33 children died in hot cars in 2022. To see the latest information for 2023, go to this link. Deaths routinely are reported as early as April and tragedies continue into December in southern states.

Safety Tips

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Heat Cramps

Heat cramps may be the first sign of heat-related illness, and may lead to heat exhaustion or stroke.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat Stroke

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This week ahead will likely be the hottest week of 2023 for Minneapolis. According to NOAA's NDFD, we could see highs in the 90s all week with hottest readings peaking around 100F on Wednesday and Thursday. The National Weather Service will likely issue heat headlines this week.

Looking at the last 30 years, the average number of 90F days at the MSP Airport is (14). July is the hottest month with an average of (6) 90F days. We've only had (3) days in the 90s this July, but have already had (14) days in the 90s this year. Last year we had (18) days in the 90s and in 2021 there were (27) days in the 90s. The most number of 90F days in any single year was (44) set in 1988.

It has been very dry across much of the region this summer with only 2.00" of rain falling at the MSP Airport from May 15th to July 24th. This is the 2nd driest such period on record with the driest being 1.90" set in 1988.

The map below shows the 60 day precipitation anomaly, which indicates that some locations are nearly -3.00" to nearly -7.00" below average (in red/pink) since mid May. Spots in Southwestern and northwestern Minnesota still have a bit of a surplus, but much of the region is well below average precipitation.

The extended precipitation outlook through next week shows a few pockets of heavy rainfall, mainly across the southwestern part of the state. The heaviest rains will be hit or miss depending on where the strongest storms blow through.

The simulated radar from early PM Tuesday to midday Thursday shows another round of showers and thunderstorms developing across the region late Tuesday through early AM Wednesday. Some of the storms could produce locally heavy rainfall before significant heat pours in Wednesday and Thursday.

The weather outlook for the Twin Cities on Wednesday, July 26th will be a little unsettled to start with scattered strong storms blowing through in the morning. Some of the storms could be severe with locally heavy rainfall, especially south and west of the Twin Cities. After the storms move through, it'll turn hot and humid once again with highs reaching the mid 90s with feels like temps possibly getting close to 100mph.

The hourly temps through the day Wednesday shows readings starting in the low/mid 70s in the morning and topping out in the mid 90s in the afternoon. It'll be unsettled in the morning with stronger storms rumbling through. Skies will then clear out with hot and muggy weather developing through the afternoon. Winds will turn more northwesterly through the 2nd half of the day with gusts approaching 15mph.

Temps on Wednesday will warm into the 80s and 90s across much of Minnesota, which will be nearly +10F to +15F above average. This will likely be our 18th day with highs in the 90s this year. Note that our average is 14.

The dewpoint forecast over the next several days will peak around 70F through the end of week, which will feel almost tropical. Things will improve into the weekend as dewpoints fall into the 50s and 60s.

The extended weather outlook for the Twin Cities through our last full week of July shows hot temps continuing with readings in the mid/upper 90s. A cool front will move in late week and weekend with cooler temps and lower humidity values. Rain chances look to improve a bit as we head into the early part of August. Fingers crossed!

Weather conditions across parts of the Central US will be unsettled at times with chances of showers and thunderstorms drifting through. There could be a few isolated severe storms with locally heavy rainfall. The large ridge of high pressure in the Western US will be responsible for a few monsoonal storms as well.

According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, the 8 to 14-day temperature outlook shows warmer-than-average temperatures shifting back to the Southern and Western US. Temps will return to normal across the Midwest and will be below average in the Northeast.

Heading into the first full week of August, more unsettled weather will be possible across parts of the Intermountain-West and also along the East Coast.

In spite of thick smoke plumes, ozone pollution and swarms of storms we should see enough tropical sunshine for mid to upper 90s today and tomorrow. No records, but factoring a dew point near 70F it may feel like 100-105F during the PM hours. Storms dry up this morning, but more flashing and splashing is likely Thursday and Friday. Canadian air leaks southward this weekend with sunshine, highs in the 80s and a possible whiff of wildfire smoke. Happy to see 80s these days.

WEDNESDAY: Early thunder then hot sun. Winds: NW 7-12. High: 96.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Warm. Few t-showers by morning. Winds: NNW 5. Low: 75.

THURSDAY: Heat index: 100-105. Few T-storms. Winds: SW 10-20. High 97.

FRIDAY: Steamy with a few heavy T-storms. Winds: NE 8-13. Wake-up: 73. High 90.

SUNDAY: Comfortable with warm sunshine. Winds: SW 7-12. Wake-up: 62. High: 86.

MONDAY: More clouds, stray T-storm. Winds: SE 7-12. Wake-up: 67. High: 88.

TUESDAY: Sticky with a few T-storms. Winds: S 8-13. Wake-up: 70. High 87.

July 26th

1981: A chilly morning occurs across the Northland, with 33 degrees at Roseau and Wannaska.

Average High: 83F (Record: 100F set in 1894 & 1955)

Average Low: 65F (Record: 45F set in 1962)

Record Rainfall: 2.44" set in 1990

Record Snowfall: NONE

July 26th

Sunset: 8:46pm

Hours of Daylight: ~14 hours & 54 minutes

Daylight LOST since yesterday: 2 Minutes & 9 Seconds

Daylight LOST since Summer Solstice (June 21st): ~ 42 minutes

1.4 Days Since First Quarter Moon

Temperatures on Wednesday will be very steamy across the Central and Southwestern US with readings running nearly +10F to +15F above average. There could be a few record highs across the Southwest through midweek as well.

The weather outlook on Wednesday will feature a few rowdy storms across parts of the Midwest on the leading edge of some fairly impressive heat that will continue to bubble north through the week ahead. There will also be a few strong storms in the Northeast with locally heavy rainfall.

The weather outlook through Thursday shows scattered storms from the Southwest to the Midwest. Some of the storms could be strong to severe with locally heavy rainfall. A number of these storms are developing on the outer edge of the excessive heat dome that has set up in the Southern US.

According to NOAA's Weather Prediction Center, the extended precipitation outlook shows heavier precipitation across parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes. These heavy rainfall events will be the result of thunderstorms that will develop on the outer edge of the extreme heat dome.

"Arizona has been facing a heat wave so extreme that Phoenix has broken multiple heat records, several wildfires are burning across the state, and people are getting severe, potentially life-threatening burns from just touching the ground. During extreme heat, studies have shown that asphalt can be 40 to 60 degrees hotter than the temperature of the air; the Arizona Burn Center at Valleywise Health says outdoor surfaces can reach as high as 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Phoenix has seen temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 consecutive days as of Sunday, July 23, shattering heat records. That extended heat has led to a surge in emergency room visits for burns. Dr. Kevin Foster, director of burn services at the Arizona Burn Center, told CNN that although summers are usually busy for burns, the past few weeks have been "really unusual," both in terms of the number of patients coming in and the severity of their injuries. CNN reported on Monday that all 45 of the burn center's beds were full, and that a third of those patients received their burns from falling on the ground. Patients burned after falls are also filling up the ICU."

"Of all extreme weather conditions, heat is the most deadly. It kills more people in the U.S. in an average year than hurricanes, tornadoes and floods combined. The human body has a built-in cooling mechanism – sweat. But that system can only do so much, especially in soaring temperatures with high humidity. Here's a look at what happens to the human body in extreme temperatures — and the three main pathways to fatal consequences. Organ failure caused by heatstroke When the surrounding temperatures approach your internal body temperature — which is about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit for most of us — your body starts to cool off through evaporative cooling, better known as sweating. But when it's very humid out, that sweat won't evaporate as well and cool you down."

See more from LAist HERE:

"Climate change is not a distant threat, but a present danger that is already wreaking havoc on our lives and homes. From devastating floods to scorching heat waves to raging wildfires, homeowners need to prepare for the consequences of our warming planet. Preparing for these challenges requires investments at both the household and government levels.The costs of natural disasters will multiply if homeowners and governments delay preparing for the increased frequency of devastating weather events. How Homeowners Can Protect Their Property Homeowners can take proactive measures to safeguard their properties against the effects of climate change. Installing rain gutters to redirect water away from the home can mitigate flood risks, an air conditioner can shield households from extreme heat, and a metal roof can protect against wildfires."

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