11th day of 90+ at MSP, rain and thunder return

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This is turning into an old fashioned summer in Minnesota. Warm lakes beckon. Hot pavement underfoot. Lemonade and a trip to your local Dairy Queen rise to the top of your summer to do list. Lazy. Hazy. Crazy.

The official National Weather Service thermometer at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport blew past 90 degrees again this afternoon.

• 11 days at or above 90 degrees at MSP so far this year

• 11 days - average annual number of days of 90-plus at MSP

• 6 days of 90-plus combined in the past two years

We've already hit the 30-year average of 90 degree days this summer at MSP. And we've already nearly doubled the number of 90 degree heat in the past two years combined in the Twin Cities and most of Minnesota.

The summer of 2016 continues to impress. We're getting more than our fare share of summer heat and humidity and severe storms in Minnesota.

Severe up north, again

It's been a significant summer for severe weather up north. An isolated severe cell brought down more trees in northern Minnesota today.

• 1 N Kabetogama [St. Louis Co, MN] TRAINED SPOTTER reports TSTM WND DMG at 21 Jul, 1:35 AM CDT -- TREES UPROOTED ON SOUTH SIDE OF LAKE KABETOGAMA.

• 3 SSE Murphy City [Lake Co, MN] 911 CALL CENTER reports TSTM WND DMG at 5:32 AM CDT -- TWO POWER LINES FELL ON TWO MOTORHOMES.

• E Finland [Lake Co, MN] 911 CALL CENTER reports TSTM WND DMG at 5:42 AM CDT -- POWER LINE DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 6.

Twin Cities thunder returns

Wednesday's cool front brings more extensive thundershower coverage and cooler temperatures to central and southern Minnesota. Then, the next Canadian high pressure cell slides south with cooler and more comfortable air mass for the last part of the week.

The maps.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's NAM 4 km resolution model paints a smudge of showers and thundershowers sliding through southern Minnesota Wednesday. A rare cool, cloudy, wet July day for the Twin Cities?

Sub-severe?

Most of the thundershowers should be garden variety. Clouds and weak upper level dynamics should keep the lid on severe storms Wednesday. Severe weather is not likely Wednesday.

Still, in late July some of the storms should contain enough energy for lightning, local downpours and gusty winds. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center does not include Minnesota in any severe 'risk zone' Wednesday.

Free AC

You may be able to give the AC a rest this week. The inbound air mass is pleasantly cooler.

Heat returns next week

All signs point to another heat surge next week across Minnesota. But the longer range indicators hit at a September preview after that. Northwest flow aloft could push a significantly cooler and more pleasant Canadian air mass south as we approach the weekend of Aug. 6.

I want to see a few more runs for consistency, but NOAA's 16-day output continues to show a few more days in the 90s next week, followed by a September-like air mass incursion.

28 days until the Minnesota State Fair begins. I fully expect another heat surge for the Fair.