Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Summery Tuesday; smoky skies from western wildfires continue this week

Cold front trims temperatures starting Wednesday.

A Thick elevated smoke layer above the Twin Cities dimmed the sunshine Monday.
A thick elevated smoke layer above the Twin Cities dimmed the sunshine Monday.
Paul Huttner/MPR News

Our balmy summer breeze continues through Tuesday.

But our trademark blue Minnesota September sky is a whiter shade of pale this week. Massive smoke plumes from nearly a hundred western wildfires now stretch from coast to coast across the U.S. Some of the thickest smoke plumes aloft blew right over Minnesota Monday.

NOAA HRRR model vertically integrated smoke product
NOAA HRRR model vertically integrated smoke product
NOAA via tropical tidbits

The mid and upper-level wind trajectory this week blows from the fire zones across the northern U.S. into Minnesota.

Upper wind forecast for Tuesday
Upper wind forecast for Tuesday
NOAA via tropical tidbits

Expect to see more white instead of blue sky days and faded sunsets this week.

Summery Tuesday

Tuesday brings warm breezes to much of Minnesota once again. Highs reach the 80s across most of southern Minnesota.

Forecast high temperatures Tuesday
Forecast high temperatures Tuesday
NOAA

Cold front Wednesday

Colder air surges south once again starting Wednesday. Highs in the chilly 50s cover most of Minnesota Thursday and Friday.

Forecast high temperatures Thursday
Forecast high temperatures Thursday
NOAA

Freezing temperatures will occur once again late this week across northern Minnesota.

Forecast low temperatures Thursday morning
Forecast low temperatures Thursday morning
NOAA

Highs will reach the 70s again this weekend across southern Minnesota.