Summer 2021: The hottest on record for many across Minnesota

Coming off what was the hottest summer on record for many spots around the state, September is off to a more seasonable start, with highs mostly in the 70s.

Given the hot weather Minnesota has seen so much of since early June, it probably comes as little surprise that 2021 took the top spot in many locations for the hottest summer ever on record. 

(Meteorological seasons are in set three-month blocks to make record-keeping periods uniform. Meteorological summer is June, July, and August.)

That includes the Twin Cities, topping 1988, which was another year that also saw widespread drought. For the Twin Cities, it was the warm overnight temperature that pushed the Metro into that top spot. 

Numerous places in northern Minnesota also saw their hottest summer, including Duluth and Brainerd, and although not listed below, Moorhead saw their second hottest summer, just to name a few spots.

Wednesday’s forecast

Much like the past couple days, the state started Wednesday seasonably cool, with morning lows varying from a few 40s in the Arrowhead to a couple low 60s in southern Minnesota. There were also a couple areas of fog again, this time primarily in southern Minnesota, which have burned off.

Highs will range from the mid-70s to low 80s once more, under mostly sunny skies and with comfortable humidity.

The one part of the forecast that deviates from the past couple days is more clouds start moving into western Minnesota by the evening, and a few spotty showers are possible in that same area by late Wednesday night. 

Rain returns

That rain late Wednesday is the leading edge of a storm that will spread showers and occasional thunderstorms across Minnesota Thursday before diminishing and eventually clearing out on Friday.

This storm system is moving in from the southwestern U.S., and that pattern is expected to bring the highest rainfall to western Minnesota, where some places are likely to see over an inch of rain. 

Eastern Minnesota will see lower totals, with the Twin Cities expecting around a half an inch.

Behind that storm, the state turns somewhat drier than average again into next week. There are still some chances for showers though, including Saturday, especially in northern Minnesota, and for most of the state Monday and Tuesday. 

Neither of those disturbances should wash out the holiday weekend though, and overall, the forecast Saturday through Monday is predominantly dry with a fair amount of sunshine.

Temperature outlook

The additional cloud cover and rain Thursday and Friday briefly cool highs into the upper 60s and low 70s.

Then most of the state rebounds back into the 70s by Saturday with the return of more sunshine.

Here is the forecast for the Twin Cities showing that trend:

Highs in the 70s, with a few 60s along the northern border, then remain in place through the remainder of the holiday weekend.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:48 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.