Dangerous heat and severe weather Wednesday
The heat index will top 100 degrees for parts of Minnesota
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A summer storm is bringing both high heat and humidity into Minnesota and creating widespread showers and storms, some of which are severe.
Wednesday’s forecast
A broad storm impacting Minnesota is already starting to shift the wind direction to more southerly winds as of Wednesday morning, and winds will increase through the day. This funnels in hot and even more humid air across the state.
Temperatures Wednesday morning are already mostly in the 60s and 70s, and by afternoon they will be hit the 80s for northern Minnesota and 90s south. High dew points in the 70s will make the day very muggy and push the heat index over 100 degrees for parts of the state, including the Twin Cities. Because of this, much of southern Minnesota is under a heat advisory, and the metro is under an excessive heat warning.
The heat and humidity are also helping to fuel storms that moved into Minnesota overnight, some of which have been severe. Here is where the showers and storms are as of 6:48 a.m.:
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The storm activity will diminish through the morning and be spottier in the afternoon. Then, fueled in part by the hot weather, they are likely to redevelop late in the afternoon and evening.
Much of central through northeastern Minnesota is under a risk for severe weather Wednesday.
In fact, there have already been a few severe weather reports early Wednesday morning, including 83 mph winds reported at the Fergus Falls airport.
With any additional severe weather Wednesday, hail and damaging wind are the primary threat, but isolated tornadoes are possible as well. Periods of heavy rain are also likely with strong storms.
It currently looks like the heaviest rain with the system could target northern and central Minnesota, with some widespread totals over an inch of rain possible.
For the Twin Cities, the timing for storms is likeliest to be late Wednesday evening and overnight, with lingering storms into Thursday.
That extended forecast for Thursday through the weekend will be updated around 9 a.m.
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:48 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.