Steamy today, good chance of thunderstorms

We are starting out today with thunderstorms over many parts of northern and central Minnesota.

The Storm Prediction Center of the National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch, valid until 9 a.m., for much of central and northern Minnesota:

rt711wch
Storm Prediction Center/National Weather Service

The center shows a slight risk of severe weather today and tonight for Minnesota and western Wisconsin:

rt711svr5
Storm Prediction Center/National Weather Service

Severe weather in the Twin Cities is a better possibility early this evening.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

An approaching cold front should ignite more thunderstorms over western Minnesota by late afternoon, and the storms are expected to spread eastward early this evening.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale Forecast System shows the expected thunderstorm redevelopment today and this evening:

rt711rad
NOAA/NAM data, via College of DuPage

Steamy today

Southerly breezes will increase our heat and humidity today.

High temperatures will be close to 90 in many spots:

rt711h4

Dew point temperatures will rise into the lower 70s by afternoon:

rt711d2

This is a good day to be sky aware, and check for forecast updates.