Heat Advisory expanded; much of the region very warm and humid through Thursday
Temperatures in the lower 90s with dew points in the lower 70s are expected Wednesday and Thursday afternoon in a large area of Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Overnight lows will not dip much below 80 in the overnight hours in the Twin Cities.
Use basic common sense when carrying out activities in the heat of the day. Drink plenty of water and avoid the direct sunshine that can add as much as 15 degrees to the Heat Index.
More heat safety information from the National Weather Service.
THE LONG DURATION OF THIS HEAT COULD LEAD TO HEAT EXHAUSTION
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OR HEAT STROKE IF APPROPRIATE HYDRATION OR FREQUENT REST
BREAKS ARE NOT TAKEN.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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.
The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model from the Duluth National Weather Service nicely depicts the metro heat island at 2 a.m. CDT. The temperature will still be close to 80F.
Pets often use their instincts to avoid heat problems. Make sure your pet has plenty of fresh water. If you walk your dog, wait until the sun is low on the western horizon.
The mid-afternoon visible satellite image depicted mostly clear skies in Minnesota, with scattered clouds and isolated thunderstorms in southwest Wisconsin.
A cool front will bring relief from the heat and humidity as it moves south through Minnesota on Thursday evening through Friday morning. There are indications that moisture convergence along the front may not be sufficient to maintain thunderstorms as the front approaches central and southern Minnesota.
Here's NOAA's forecast for rainfall potential for the next three days that takes us to 7 p.m. Friday.
The warm weather has been a benefit to maturing crops. If you didn't have standing water in your garden or field, the moisture and the heat has accelerated the growth. Although some places are lacking in rain for the month of July.
If your landscape gets a good shower on Thursday or Friday you'll be giddy about the cooler temperatures that are in store for Saturday. Even if you don't get rain, you'll enjoy the more refreshing air mass this weekend.
