Weekend weather: Comfy temps; Sunday afternoon rain chance in NW Minnesota

I’ll get to the pleasant weekend in a moment after a quick update on the heat that lingers Thursday afternoon in parts of Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

The National Weather Service continues an excessive heat warning for far southern Minnesota until 7 p.m. A heat advisory continues until 7 p.m. in the Twin Cities metro area and in several counties to the west of the metro area plus west-central Wisconsin:

Here are details of the excessive heat warning in far southern Minnesota:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 1003 AM CDT Thu Aug 24 2023 MNZ082>085-091>093-242315- /O.CON.KMPX.EH.W.0003.000000T0000Z-230825T0000Z/ Watonwan-Blue Earth-Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn- Including the cities of St James, Mankato, Waseca, Owatonna, Fairmont, Blue Earth, and Albert Lea 1003 AM CDT Thu Aug 24 2023 ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 100. * WHERE...Watonwan, Blue Earth, Waseca, Steele, Martin, Faribault and Freeborn Counties. * WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1

Here are details of the heat advisory that includes the Twin Cities metro area:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 1003 AM CDT Thu Aug 24 2023 MNZ060>063-066>070-074>078-WIZ023>026-028-242315- /O.CON.KMPX.HT.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-230825T0000Z/ Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott- Dakota-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-St. Croix-Pierce-Dunn- Pepin-Eau Claire- Including the cities of Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater, Hutchinson, Gaylord, Chanhassen, Chaska, Victoria, Shakopee, Hastings, New Ulm, St Peter, Le Sueur, Faribault, Red Wing, Hudson, River Falls, Menomonie, Durand, and Eau Claire 1003 AM CDT Thu Aug 24 2023 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Heat index values up to 95. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, south central and southeast Minnesota and west central Wisconsin. * WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the MPR News network.

Pleasant weekend weather

The average Twin Cities high temperature is 79 degrees on Aug. 26. Metro area highs will be in the upper 70s this Saturday.

Most of Minnesota will have Saturday highs in the 70s, with 60s in parts of northeastern Minnesota and far northwestern Wisconsin:

Saturday afternoon dew points will be reasonable for late summer; in the upper 50s to around 60:

Drier dew points, in the lower 50s, are expected to the northeast.

Sunday high temperatures will be in the 80s in southern and central Minnesota, with mainly 70s to the north:

Far northeastern Minnesota will see some 60s.

Sunday afternoon dew points will be in the upper 50s to around 60 in many areas, with lower 50s in the far north:

Rain chance starts in NW Minnesota Sunday afternoon

Much of the weekend will be rain-free. An upper-level disturbance could bring patchy showers to northwestern and north-central Minnesota Sunday afternoon.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale (NAM) forecast model shows the potential rain pattern from 7 a.m. Sunday to 7 p.m. Sunday:

That rain chance is expected to spread to the east and southeast Sunday evening. Check forecast updates.

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.