Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Wednesday storm chances; potential heatwave next week

Slight risk for severe storms Wednesday. High in the 90s to 100 degrees possible next week.

NOAA 6 to 10-day temperature outlook
NOAA 6 to 10-day temperature outlook.
NOAA

We’re watching for scattered storms to cross Minnesota overnight into Wednesday. Like many passing weather systems in this drought summer of 2023, this one will also bring limited storm coverage and rainfall. But a few lucky spots could pick up a quick soaking through Wednesday.

Several short-range forecast models still bring scattered storm clusters across Minnesota from west to east overnight into Wednesday. They differ slightly in timing and coverage as usual.

NOAA’s HRRR model is typical of many that bring spotty storms into western and northern MInnesota overnight, and into eastern Minnesota early Wednesday morning and again Wednesday afternoon. The forecast model loop below runs between 1 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday.

NOAA HRRR model 2
NOAA HRRR model between 1 am and 7 pm Wednesday.
NOAA via tropical tidbits

A slight risk for severe storms covers most of central and southern Minnesota Wednesday. The risk zone extends into western Wisconsin.

Heatwave likely next week

Highs for the rest of this week will run in the 80s across most of Minnesota.

The medium-range forecast models continue to crank up the heat across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest next week. NOAA’s GFS model is among those that build a hot high-pressure ridge aloft over the northern U.S. through next week.

The upper air loop below runs between Sunday, July 23, and Saturday, July 29. Reddish areas indicate areas of warmer than average temperatures aloft, and ultimately here on the ground.

Upper air forecast map for
Upper air forecast map for next week.
NOAA via tropical tidbits

Highs by next Monday will already likely push into the 90s across southern Minnesota, with temperatures approaching 100 degrees to the west.

Forecast high temperatures Monday
Forecast high temperatures Monday.
NOAA

Both the European and American GFS models currently crank out temperatures in the mid-90s to 100 degrees in the core of the advancing heat dome next week.

It remains to be seen just how hot it could get next week. But the chances of a string of 90-degree or hotter days is growing. And overall rainfall still looks below average.

Stay tuned.