Hazy sunshine on Sunday; midweek soaker possible

Saturday highs were slightly below average in southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro area, but that was OK. This is typically our warmest time of the year, so it’s still very comfortable when temps are a bit shy of average.

Temperature trends

Sunday highs will be in the 80s across most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin:

A few spots in far northwestern Minnesota could top 90.

Sunday dew points will be mainly in the comfortable 50s:

Back to high temps, Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to reach the mid 80s Monday, followed by upper 80s Tuesday and upper 70s on Wednesday. Highs rebound to the mid 80s for Thursday and Friday.

Temps may be a bit above average next weekend and into the start of the following week. The Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service shows a tendency for above normal temps in Minnesota and Wisconsin from July 16 through July 20:

Wednesday soaker?

Many parts of Minnesota are still in drought. A search of forecast models show the possibility of meaningful rain in Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin Tuesday night and Wednesday. NOAA’s Global Forecast System (GFS) model shows the potential rain pattern from Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening:

Check forecast updates as we get closer to Wednesday.

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the Minnesota Public Radio network, and you can see updated weather info on the MPR News live weather blog.

Air quality alert

The Minnesota Pollution Control agency has issued an air quality alert for northeastern Minnesota and parts of north-central Minnesota that started Saturday morning and continues to 6 a.m. Monday:

Here are details of the alert (which is shaded orange in the map above), from the MPCA:

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for northeast Minnesota, effective Saturday, July 10, beginning at 6 a.m. through Monday, July 12, at 6 a.m. The affected area includes Duluth, Ely, Hibbing, International Falls, Two Harbors, Grand Marais, and Grand Portage, and the tribal areas of Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, and Red Lake.

Smoke from wildfires located north of the Canadian border in Ontario and Manitoba will be transported by northerly winds circulating around high pressure into the northeast part of the state. Heavy smoke is expected to arrive Saturday morning and remain over the area into Monday morning. During this time, fine particle levels are expected to be in the Orange AQI category, a level that is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. The lake breeze along Lake Superior will help bring heavier smoke down towards the surface, then the smoke will tend to drift westward towards north central Minnesota. On Monday, winds will turn out of the south and steer the smoke northward into Canada.

People whose health is affected by unhealthy air quality

There are people who are more likely to be affected when fine particle pollution reaches an unhealthy level.

• People who have asthma or other breathing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

• People who have heart disease or high blood pressure.

• Children and older adults.

• People of all ages who are doing extended or heavy, physical activity like playing sports or working outdoors.

Health effects

Air pollution can aggravate heart and cardiovascular disease as well as lung diseases like asthma and COPD. When the air quality is unhealthy, people with these conditions may experience symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, or fatigue. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, use your inhalers as directed and contact your health care provider.

Take precautions

• Everyone should take precautions when the air quality is unhealthy.

• Take it easy and listen to your body.

• Limit, change, or postpone your physical activity.

• If possible, stay away from local sources of air pollution like busy roads and wood fires.

• If you have asthma, or other breathing conditions like COPD, make sure you have your relief/rescue inhaler with you.

• People with asthma should review and follow guidance in their written asthma action plan. Make an appointment to see your health provider if you don’t have an asthma action plan.

Some of the Canadian wildfire smoke may spread (aloft) over parts of central and southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Sunday. That would give us a haze layer and lead to brilliant colors at sunrise and sunset on Sunday.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.