Free air-conditioning
A cold front moved through Minnesota yesterday afternoon and evening, bringing us a gift from Canada.
Cooler and much drier air spread across Minnesota late Thursday. Dew point temperatures are now in the 50s, replacing the steamy 70+ degree dew points that were with us much of the week.
When the dew point temperature drops 20 degrees, the amount of water in the air is cut in half. We've seen our dew points drop about 15 degrees since yesterday, so it's much more comfortable today.
Dew point temperatures in the 50s will be common through the weekend, as a high pressure system spreads over the upper Midwest:
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Northeastern Minnesota could see some scattered showers this afternoon and early evening, but most of us will be dry through the weekend.
Not hot
Highs in the 70s will be common today:
Some spots in southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, could touch 80.
Our average high this time of year is 82 degrees in the Twin Cities, so these highs are slightly cooler than normal.
Saturday highs will be similar to today's highs, then temps warm slightly on Sunday:
Shot at 90 Tuesday
If you like it hotter, hang in there. The Twin Cities and much of southern and central Minnesota could see upper 80s to around 90 next Tuesday and Wednesday. Humidity levels will also rise next week.
90 degree days
On average, we have 11 days per year with a high temperature of 90 degrees or higher. Wednesday was our 12th 90 degree or warmer day in the Twin Cities this year.
The Twin Cities record total was 44 days of 90 or warmer, set back in 1988. I imagine that there were some huge electric bills that summer!
Tropical update
Tropical storm Earl is located over the southern coast of the Bay of Campeche this morning:
Here are the more details from the National Hurricane Center:
BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM EARL INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 12A
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL052016
700 AM CDT FRI AUG 05 2016
...EARL HUGGING THE COAST OF THE SOUTHERN BAY OF CAMPECHE...
SUMMARY OF 700 AM CDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...18.5N 93.5W
ABOUT 175 MI...285 KM ESE OF VERACRUZ MEXICO
ABOUT 65 MI...105 KM ENE OF COATZACOALCOS MEXICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 12 MPH...19 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1002 MB...29.59 INCHES
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND: Tropical storm conditions will spread westward across the
warning area today and tonight.
RAINFALL: Earl is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations
of 8 to 12 inches over portions of the Mexican states of Chiapas,
Oaxaca, Puebla, Tabasco and Veracruz through Saturday morning with
possible isolated maximum amounts of 18 inches. These rains could
result in life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.
Programming note:
You can hear my live weather updates at 7:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday on Minnesota Public Radio.