September starts Thursday; parts of Minnesota still likely to see 90

September and meteorological fall begin Thursday. I know.

The intense heat of midsummer is behind us now. But we may not be done with 90-degree temperatures just yet.

Strong south winds and strong sunshine will boost temperatures to near 90 degrees in western Minnesota Thursday afternoon, where bank thermometers in towns like Madison and Appleton could flash 90 or higher around 3 p.m.

The Twin Cities will likely reach at least the upper 80s Thursday. I wouldn’t rule out 90 degrees in some western Twin Cities suburbs.

A slow-moving cool front crosses Minnesota Friday. Isolated showers or a thunderstorm are possible, but most of us may stay dry as rainfall coverage looks likely to be around 20 to 30 percent.

Saturday brings a pleasantly cooler air mass into Minnesota. Highs will be mostly in the 70s, with some 60s in northern Minnesota.

90 again next week?

The first week of September looks warm overall. Forecast models suggest predominantly southerly wind flow. High temperatures well into the 80s look likely next week.

Some spots in Minnesota could reach 90 degrees again next week. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model suggests temperatures in the upper 80s to near 90 in southern Minnesota next Tuesday and Wednesday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s eight to 14-day outlook favors warmer-than-average temperatures across most of the United States.

The 30-year average high and low temperatures next week in the Twin Cities are 76 and 58 degrees.

So it looks like September, and meteorological fall will get off to a warmer than average start in Minnesota this year.

Stay tuned.