Cranking it up for the 4th and ordering up a cool front

Radar captured a pretty good depiction of the bow echo that move through northern Minnesota last evening.

The bowing of the leading edge of heavy precipitation indicates a strong mid-level wind accelerating the storms to the east. A dry intrusion of air shown from about Grand Rapids east (light-green color) identifies where the winds are being drawn down to the surface. Estimated winds of up to 80 mph downed trees and caused power outages in Itasca County.

Source:NWS Duluth (posted on Facebook by Chris Bovitz)

Storm report link was posted in previous updraft.

Lots of excitement in weather labs across the upper Midwest today about the prospects of reaching triple-digit temperatures in metro and southeast Minnesota on July 4. A period of cloudiness could be just enough to keep us in the 90s much of the day. I'm okay with falling short of 100 degrees.

NWS forecast for maximum temperatures on Wednesday.

Pete Boulay of the State Climate Office did some great work on the history of 100-degree temperatures. His story can be probed here. Pete notes that the last year with more than one 100-degree temperature days in the Twin Cities was in 1988 with four. The record high in the Twin Cities for July 4 is 100, set in 1949.

A visible satellite image from mid-afternoon shows a few cloud streets through the state.

Source: NOAA

There is a hint of a boundary extending down Interstate 94. At least one computer model favors a cloud band positioning over southern Minnesota tonight. A rogue shower cannot be totally ruled out on Wednesday.

Looking for some relief? A weak shot of cooler air is expected to slink south into Minnesota on Friday. More comfortable temperatures will be welcomed on the weekend. Dew points might hold in the lower 60s.

Today's high so far in the Twin Cities has been 96 degrees. The record for today is 100 set in 1990.

Wishing you a safe holiday.

Craig Edwards