What September? July-level heat, smoky skies persist
The calendar says mid-September. But the weather maps scream July across the Upper Midwest.
The atmospheric reason for our extended summer soiree? The jet stream remains on Canadian vacation north of the border this week. That puts a warm bubble of air across the U.S.
Unseasonably warm
The average high temperature in the Twin Cities this week? 73 degrees. Highs in the Red River Valley push 90 again tomorrow. The Twin Cities and most of Minnesota basks in the mid and upper 80s. As usual, cooler by the (big) lake. Summery weather is in no hurry to fly south this year.
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Here are the Twin Cities numbers this week. Look for a temperature correction by Sunday.
Shower chances
Dry, warm weather continues Wednesday. A cool front works closer to Minnesota later this week. That boosts spotty showers and T-Storm coverage. The best chances for rain arrive this weekend.
Hopefully the GFS timing of Saturday night rain pans out. That may still leave many dry hour Saturday. A fresh northwest breeze blows in starting Sunday.
Smoky skies persist
Welcome to yet another day of white-tinted skies across Minnesota.
You can thank western wildfires once again for the milky white paste overhead. NOAA's smoke mapping product shows a sizable smoke plume drifting across the USA and southern Canada.
Mix down
Some of the smoke particles may have mixed down to ground level. Note the elevated readings via the MPCA today.
I can't recall a summer when I've observed more smoky sky days. It would be nice to return to the Land of Sky Blue Waters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yHsoW6CTjM