Jet stream chaos: Record July MN chill, record BC heat

Clearly the Twin Cities Chamber of Commerce didn't write the forecast this week.

A biting wind rips through Minnesota today as a rare July polar vortex spins overhead. The result? Record books in jeopardy, and baseball fans huddling in their Twins sweatshirt or polar fleece as they watch towering home run shots sail up into the howling northwest jet stream and out of Target Field tonight.

Boys of summer?

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  • 68 degrees record low maximum temp for July 14 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (set in 1884)

  • 65 degrees temp after midnight at MSP (the coldest we can be possibly today for 24 hour maximum)

  • Oct. 1 average date of 65 degree high in the Twin Cities

  • 84 degrees average high temp for today in the Twin Cities

  • Warmest week of the year on average in Minnesota

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NOAA

Jet stream in chaos

I've been doing weather in Minnesota for about 30 years. I've never seen a jet stream pattern this chaotic in mid-July.

As Minnesota shivers today in record July cold, western Canada is baking, and literally burning up in record heat.

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Climate Reanalyzer

This unprecedented "high amplitude" jet stream pattern is producing record cold and record heat at close range within North America.

Temperatures reached 105 degrees Sunday in parts of British Columbia. At least 20 weather stations across western Canada set high temperature records Sunday.

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NOAA/State University of New York-Albany

Record heat spawning massive blazes

The maps of wild fires in western Canada are impressive.

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National Post

At least 55 wildfires are burning in B.C. now. Another 130 fires rage in the Northwest Territories.

BC euchiniko-lakes-fire-on-july-9-2014
A photo taken July 9, 2014 shows the Euchiniko Lakes fire, burning across 410 hectares between the Prince George and Cariboo fire regions as of July 12. (B.C. Wildfire Management Branch)

Major league cold front

No doubt about it. Minnesota's reputation as the frozen tundra will get a boost this week during MLB All-Star Game festivities. I can already hear the teeth chattering comments from national media.

This could be the coldest All Star Game on record since 1980 according to Baseball Reference. A game time temp of 68 degrees has been recorded at several All-Star contests including Milwaukee, Chicago and Boston. Why not set the new record in Minnesota?

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Weatherspark

Driest week in 2 months ahead?

This will likely be the driest week of summer so far. We may get through most of this week without rain after today. A welcome chance to dry out after our record setting summer so far. The next best chance of thunderstorms rolls in Saturday night into Sunday morning.

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Weatherspark

Enjoy the excellent weather -- after today.