Heat continues on Labor Day, cooler by Wednesday

Updated at 8 p.m.

Sunday was a good day to be on or near a lake. I’m sure that it felt great to be swimming or wading in cool lake water.

The Sunday afternoon high temperature at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was 97 degrees. I kept watching the temperature, which oscillated between 96 and 97 degrees for a couple of hours:

We never made it to 98 degrees, which would have been a new Twin Cities record high for Sept. 3.

The 97 degree reading tied the Twin Cities record high temp for Sept. 3, which was set in 1925. The average Twin Cities high temp is just 77 degrees on Sept. 3.

Blaine, in the north metro, had 99 degrees at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday.

Some spots in Minnesota had triple-digit high temperatures Sunday afternoon. I saw a report of 102 degrees in Staples (central Minnesota), 101 in Brainerd, 101 degrees in Canby (southwestern Minnesota) and 100 in Montevideo.

New record highs were set in Duluth, Hibbing and Brainerd:

 This heat wave isn’t over yet.

Temperature trends

Monday highs will be well into the 90s in much of southern and central Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin:

Much of far northern Minnesota will see lower 90s, with some 80s in northeastern Minnesota and 70s up along the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Tuesday highs will range from 60s in far northwestern Minnesota to 90s in the southeast:

Wednesday high temps will feel autumn-like, with 60s north and 70s south:

Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to be in the lower 70s Wednesday and Thursday then around 80 degrees on Friday.

Heat advisory

The Twin Cities metro area and southeastern Minnesota/western Wisconsin counties that border the Mississippi River remain in a heat advisory Sunday evening through Tuesday afternoon.

Here are advisory details for the metro area:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 153 PM CDT Sun Sep 3 2023 MNZ060>063-068>070-040300- /O.CON.KMPX.HT.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-230905T2200Z/ Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-Carver-Scott-Dakota- Including the cities of Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater, Chanhassen, Chaska, Victoria, Shakopee, and Hastings 153 PM CDT Sun Sep 3 2023 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CDT TUESDAY... * WHAT...Heat index values up to 100. * WHERE...Hennepin, Anoka, Ramsey, Washington, Carver, Scott and Dakota Counties. * WHEN...Until 5 PM CDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The heat during the day combined with warm temperatures overnight remaining in the mid 70s will provide little recovery time from the heat. 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 advisory details for the southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin counties that border the Mississippi River:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service La Crosse WI 1052 AM CDT Sun Sep 3 2023 IAZ011-MNZ079-088-096-WIZ032>034-041-042-053-054-041200- /O.CON.KARX.HT.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-230905T2300Z/ Allamakee-Wabasha-Winona-Houston-Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson- La Crosse-Monroe-Vernon-Crawford- Including the cities of Waukon, Wabasha, Winona, Caledonia, Alma, Arcadia, Whitehall, Black River Falls, La Crosse, Sparta, Tomah, Viroqua, and Prairie Du Chien 1052 AM CDT Sun Sep 3 2023 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT TUESDAY... * WHAT... Prolonged heat. Afternoon heat index values of 95 to 103 degrees expected through Tuesday. Overnight lows will only fall into the low to mid-70s. * WHERE...The warmest conditions are expected along the Mississippi and Wisconsin river valleys and their nearby tributaries over southeast Minnesota, southwest and west- central Wisconsin, and northeast Iowa. * WHEN...Until 6 PM CDT Tuesday with the greatest impacts during the afternoon hours each day. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Humidity values today and Monday will be on the lower side, but do increase for Tuesday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take extra precautions if you spend time outside. 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. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.

The area from Brainerd to Hinkley to Duluth plus far northwestern Wisconsin will be in a heat advisory from 3 p.m. Monday to 7 p.m. Monday:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Duluth MN 655 PM CDT Sun Sep 3 2023 MNZ033-034-036>038-WIZ001-006-007-041000- /O.EXP.KDLH.HT.Y.0004.000000T0000Z-230904T0000Z/ /O.CON.KDLH.HT.Y.0005.230904T2000Z-230905T0000Z/ South Cass-Crow Wing-South Aitkin-Carlton and South St. Louis- Pine-Douglas-Burnett-Washburn- Including the cities of Pine River, Brainerd, Aitkin, Duluth, Pine City, Hinckley, Superior, Grantsburg, and Spooner 655 PM CDT Sun Sep 3 2023 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM TO 7 PM CDT MONDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures up to 98 expected. * WHERE...In Minnesota, South Cass, Crow Wing, South Aitkin, Carlton, South St. Louis and Pine Counties. In Wisconsin, Douglas, Burnett and Washburn Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Fond du Lac Band, the St. Croix Band in Burnett County and the Mille Lacs Band, East Lake, Lena Lake and, Hinckley areas. * WHEN...From 3 PM to 7 PM CDT Monday. * 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, schedule 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.

Heat advisories for additional Minnesota and Wisconsin counties may need to be posted on Monday.

Rain chances

Labor Day is expected to be rain-free across most of Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin.

Far northwestern Minnesota could see a few scattered showers and thunderstorms Monday afternoon and Monday evening/night.

A slow moving cold front will spread some showers and thunderstorms across Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin from Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday evening and the overnight hours of Tuesday night.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale (NAM) forecast model shows the potential rain pattern from 6 a.m. Tuesday to 11 p.m. Tuesday:

Check forecast updates on Tuesday; the thunderstorm coverage may be more extensive than what is show in the NAM model. Some severe weather will be possible late Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday evening.

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

You can check these National Weather Service sites for updated weather info: Twin Cities, Duluth, La Crosse, Wis., Sioux Falls, S.D., and Grand Forks, N.D.

State Fair Weather

The Minnesota State Climatology Office has posted interesting facts about Minnesota State Fair weather.

Here’s an excerpt:

Although a wide variety of weather has greeted Fair-goers over the years, it's the late-summer heat waves that are perhaps most memorable. By far the highest temperature in the Fair's history was 104 degrees F, on September 10, 1931. In fact, the second-highest temperature ever recorded during the Fair was 99 F, notched the same year but two days earlier. Not surprisingly, the 1931 Fair is the current record-holder for high temperatures, averaging 92.6 F, which is 2.7 F higher than the runner-up (1922). It is worth noting that the 1931 Fair ran eight days, from September 5-12, whereas the Fair currently runs 12 days, making it less likely to sustain such high temperatures over that longer period. On the other hand, 1931's record is even more impressive considering that the entire Fair took place during September, when extremes of heat become increasing rare.

Recent steamy State Fair conditions were experienced during 2013, which was the third warmest on record and also had a record six days with 90-degree high temperatures. 2012 was quite warm as well, with an average daily maximum temperature of 87.1 degrees. Nine consecutive State Fairs, however, from 2014 through 2022, generally lacked hot weather, with no 90-degree high temperatures recorded in any of those years. There wasn't even an 80 degree maximum temperature in 2019.

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.