"Oh it's too hot (too hot) … too hot, lady … gotta run for shelter, gotta run for shade," sang Kool and the Gang, a song I'm humming to myself after gazing at the weather models.
The World Meteorological Organization defines a heat wave as five or more consecutive days of temperatures at least 9F higher than average. By that definition early July will bring a memorable heat wave for Minnesota and the nation.
Sunday night's monsoon rains (1-2 months' worth of rain in some areas) may be the exception, not the rule, as we slide into a hotter, drier pattern. Probably no record heat, but Minnesota temperatures should run at least 10 degrees above average from Thursday into much of next week.
Predicting daytime highs depends on how long the sun will be out each day — any storms or stubborn clouds will keep us 10-15 degrees cooler than we would be otherwise.
You wanted a real summer? It's coming. NOAA's GFS model predicts 13 of the next 16 days will be above 90F. We spend half the year shivering. Bring it.
