Heat advisory this afternoon; heat lingers through Memorial Day

Our heat wave will continue today and right through Memorial Day.

Highs this afternoon will reach the 90s over much of Minnesota. We could hit 97 degrees this afternoon in the Twin Cities metro area, which would break today's record high of 95. Far northern Minnesota will probably top out in the 80s, with cooler temps in a few spots up along the north shore of Lake Superior.

Memorial Day highs will be toasty as well:

Twin Cities highs retreat to about 90 degrees on Tuesday, followed by mid 80s Wednesday and lower 80s Thursday.

Our average Twin Cities high temp is only in the lower 70s this time of year.

Heat advisory central and south

Heat index values are expected to be in the 95 to 100 degree range in most of the southern half of Minnesota this afternoon and early this evening.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory that runs from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. today for much of the southern half of Minnesota:

The heat advisory includes the Twin Cities metro area.

Heat advisory details:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

333 AM CDT Sun May 27 2018

MNZ060-062-271700-

/O.CON.KMPX.HT.Y.0001.180527T1800Z-180528T0100Z/

Hennepin-Ramsey-

Including the cities of Minneapolis and St Paul

333 AM CDT Sun May 27 2018

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO

8 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

* TEMPERATURE...Heat index values will reach 95 to 100 degrees

this afternoon. This will be exacerbated by relatively light

southerly winds of 5 to 15 mph, which will provide little

cooling relief.

* IMPACTS...Heat illnesses are possible for those active

outdoors or those susceptible to heat illnesses, such as

children and the elderly.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Heat Advisory means that a period of hot temperatures is

expected. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity

will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are

possible. Drink plenty of fluids...stay in an air-conditioned

room...stay out of the sun...and check up on relatives and

neighbors.

Take extra precautions...if you work or spend time outside.

When possible...reschedule strenuous activities to early morning

or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and

heat stroke. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing when

possible and drink plenty of water.

To reduce risk during outdoor work...the occupational safety

and health administration recommends scheduling frequent rest

breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome

by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat

stroke is an emergency...call 9 1 1.

Here are some heat safety tips from NOAA:

Rain opportunities

Some showers and a few thunderstorms are moving through northwestern and west central Minnesota early this morning. They are expected to spread eastward, and shrink a bit by this afternoon.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model shows the potential rain pattern today:

The color chart to the right of the loop refers to the strength of the signal that returns to the radar, not to the amount of rain.

Updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and updates are also posted on the MPR News live weather blog.

Scattered showers and an isolated thunderstorm could move over northeastern Minnesota overnight tonight, and northern Minnesota has a chance of a passing shower or thunderstorm on Memorial Day.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible anywhere in Minnesota Monday night, and periods of showers and thunderstorms are a good bet on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Alberto's winds and rain

Here's the latest on subtropical storm Alberto, from the National Hurricane Center:

BULLETIN

Subtropical Storm Alberto Intermediate Advisory Number 8A

NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL012018

800 AM EDT Sun May 27 2018

...SLIGHTLY STRONGER ALBERTO MOVING A LITTLE FASTER NORTHWARD OVER

THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO...

SUMMARY OF 800 AM EDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION

----------------------------------------------

LOCATION...26.3N 84.4W

ABOUT 165 MI...265 KM SW OF TAMPA FLORIDA

ABOUT 240 MI...385 KM S OF APALACHICOLA FLORIDA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH...75 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...N OR 010 DEGREES AT 15 MPH...24 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...997 MB...29.44 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

--------------------

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...

* Crystal River to the Mississippi/Alabama border

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Dry Tortugas

* Bonita Beach to the Mississippi/Alabama border

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...

* Mississippi/Alabama border to the Mouth of the Pearl River

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-

threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the

coastline, in the indicated locations in this case during the next

36 hours. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National

Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at

hurricanes.gov.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are

expected somewhere within the warning area.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are

possible somewhere within the watch area.

For storm information specific to your area in the United

States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please

monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service

forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside

the United States, please monitor products issued by your national

meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

----------------------

At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the center of Subtropical Storm Alberto

was located near latitude 26.3 North, longitude 84.4 West. The

storm is moving toward the north near 15 mph (24 km/h). A turn

toward the north-northwest at a slower forward speed is forecast

tonight. A north-northwestward to northward motion is expected

Tuesday through early Wednesday. On the forecast track, the center

of Alberto will cross the eastern and northern Gulf of Mexico today

and approach the northern Gulf Coast in the warning area tonight or

Monday. Heavy rainfall and tropical storm conditions will likely

reach the northern Gulf Coast well before the arrival of the center

of Alberto. Alberto is expected to move northward into the

Tennessee Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph (75 km/h) with

higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast until the system

reaches the northern Gulf Coast. Steady weakening is expected after

Alberto makes landfall, and it is forecast to become a tropical

depression by Monday night or Tuesday.

Winds of 40 mph extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km) mainly to

the east of the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure based on data from an Air

Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft data is 997 mb (29.44 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

----------------------

RAINFALL: Alberto is expected to produce the following rain

accumulations through Tuesday:

Central Cuba...Additional 5 to 10 inches, isolated storm totals of

20 inches.

The Florida panhandle into eastern Alabama and western Georgia...4

to 8 inches, isolated 12 inches.

The Florida Keys and south Florida...Additional 3 to 6 inches,

isolated storm totals of 10 inches.

Rest of the Florida peninsula...1 to 4 inches.

Rest of the southeast U.S. from Tennessee to the Carolinas...2 to 6

inches.

Rains in Cuba could produce life-threatening flash floods and

mudslides. Flooding and flash flooding are possible in the southeast

United States, including Florida.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are occurring in the Dry Tortugas,

and these conditions are expected to spread northward in the warning

area along the west coast of Florida today. Tropical storm

conditions are expected within the warning area along the northern

Gulf Coast by later today. Tropical storm conditions are

possible in the watch area along the northern Gulf Coast by Monday.

STORM SURGE: The combination of storm surge and the tide will cause

normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters

moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the

following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated

areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...

Crystal River to the Mississippi/Alabama border...2 to 4 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast. Surge-

related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge

and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For

information specific to your area, please see products issued by

your local National Weather Service forecast office.

TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible across the Florida

peninsula today.

SURF: Swells generated by Alberto will affect the eastern and

northern Gulf Coast through Tuesday. These swells are likely

to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. For more

information, consult products from your local weather office.

NEXT ADVISORY

-------------

Next complete advisory at 1100 AM EDT.

The center of Alberto could make landfall along the panhandle of Florida on Monday:

Heavy rainfall totals are expected in many gulf coast areas over the next few days:

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.