The heat lessens, but Minnesota's dry trend continues

Rain chances remain limited this week, but the hot weather finally breaks some with more highs in the 70s and 80s versus all the 90s last week.

The week did start off hot, with much of central and southern Minnesota in the 90s again Sunday. The high of 97 in the Twin Cities on Sunday was the 10th time so far this June with a high of 90 or higher. 

That ties in sixth place for the June with the most 90s on record, and it is not even halfway through the month. However, chances to hit 90 do look much more limited over the next two weeks.

Monday’s forecast

Behind a cold front that moved through on Sunday, the state started Monday off with seasonable temperatures for mid-June, ranging from a few 40s in the Arrowhead to 60s in southern Minnesota.

Despite winds out of the north, most of the state will be slightly above average Monday, with highs predominantly in the 80s.

However, for central and northern Minnesota especially, this is markedly cooler than the 90s of Sunday.

A few isolated showers clipped the very southwestern edge of Minnesota early Monday, but that precipitation has cleared, and now it will be another day of widespread sunshine across the state.

Dew points remain lower, in the 40s and 50s, meaning our afternoon relative humidity stays low again. 

Extended forecast

With cooler air still funneling across the state Monday, Tuesday starts off even a couple degrees cooler than Monday in most spots, ranging from 40s in the Arrowhead to low 60s south. 

Highs Tuesday will be the closest to average Minnesota has seen most of June, with 70s north to mid-80s south, under more sunshine.

Wednesday and Thursday, temperatures nudge hotter again thanks to a southerly flow ahead of a weather system, with more 80s across the state and isolated 90s possible in southern and western Minnesota. 

That round of heat does not last long, though, as a cold front with that same storm system drops highs back into the 70s and 80s by Friday.

Here is that forecast for the Twin Cities showing how the heat stays far more tempered than last week:

The same weather system that warms us also brings the best chance for Minnesota to see any rain this week. It currently looks like scattered showers and storms should start pushing into the state Wednesday evening, bringing precipitation chances through Thursday. 

These are the rain chances as that storm moves through:

Unfortunately, the wet weather will be hit and miss, with most places seeing rain expected to get less than a quarter inch. That means most of Minnesota will continue to see the recent dry conditions worsen during the week ahead.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.