Friday hot front, 2015 hottest on record so far

You'd be forgiven if you woke up from a long nap Thursday and though it was late September.

• 72 degrees: high temperature at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Thursday

• Sept. 16: average high in metro is 72 degrees

• 84 degrees: average high temperature at MSP Airport this week

Our rare cloudy, cool, rainy July Thursday gives way to a Friday hot front. Temperatures and dew points soar Friday and Saturday as another steamy air mass pushes into Minnesota.

With heat and humidity come a chance of thunderstorms. The highest storm chances appear to favor the overnight hours. Minnesotans should get enough steamy sunshine during the day this weekend to be happy, but Doppler watching will become a spectator sport again.

The inbound steamy air mass peaks Saturday afternoon, then a cool front from the west pushes in by Sunday offering considerable relief in the form of lower dew points and cooler temperatures Sunday.

Spectacular Sunday?

The fresh front blowing through Sunday should usher in some of the finest weather of the summer. Bright sun, lower dew points and a fresh west breeze blowing across the Land of 10,000 Lakes will feel nothing short of delightful. Sunday's beautiful air mass lasts into at least next Tuesday.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model has done well lately with trends over the Upper Midwest. It suggests an even longer dry and sunny stretch next week. One of the best weeks of summer 2015 ahead?

Seeley: Wet and steamy July

July temperatures are running cool so far in many Minnesota locations. But frequent humidity spikes and a very steam day last Sunday have our attention. Here's a preview exclusive to MPR News Updraft readers of Mark Seeley's always excellent Weather Talk, which posts Friday morning.

Topic:  July so far

Just over half way through the month July has brought cooler than normal temperatures to most parts of the state.  Only about 1 in 5 Minnesota climate observers have reported a high temperature of 90°F or higher this month.  Many northern cities have reported overnight low temperatures in the upper 30s F.

Rainfall so far in July has been highly variable, but with some observers already reporting above normal totals for the month. In the northwestern portion of the state New Folden (Marshall County) has already received 5.23 inches; in the north-central part of the state Aitkin reports 5.24 inches; in central Minnesota Milaca reports 5.03 inches and Mora reports 5.20 inches; in southern Minnesota Farmington reports 5.85 inches and Hastings 5.07 inches.

The outlook favors above normal rainfall during the 2nd half of July for much of the state, so perhaps most observers will see a sizable increase in monthly rainfall over the next two weeks.

MPR listener question:  Last Sunday, July 12th was a miserable day here in Montevideo, MN.  I have never been so hot.  What was the maximum dewp point and Heat Index that day?

Answer:  Indeed, it was a hot day.  Many observers reported dew points of 70°F or higher and Heat Index values over 100°F.  Dew points of 81°F were reported from St James, Morris, New Ulm, Hutchinson, and Montevideo.  The maximum Heat Index of 111°F was reported from Tracy and Montevideo, right where you live.

Speaking of high dew points, during the month of June Twin Cities residents only experience one day with a dew point that high.  But so far in July we have already recorded dew points of 70°F or higher on five days, and I suspect there will be more.

Abraham: 2015 off the charts as warmest globally through June

University of St. Thomas professor of thermal sciences and frequent Climate Cast guest John Abraham sends word that June's incoming global temperature numbers continue to put 2015 off the charts as the hottest year on record so far globally.

Stay tuned as numbers from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other sources come out in the coming days declaring the first half of 2015 as the warmest year on record so far globally.