Updraft®

Dry with lots of sun Thursday and Friday. Hot weekend on the way

Isolated chances of thunder this weekend

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Forecast heat index values Sunday afternoon
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, via Pivotal Weather

Look for lots of sun and very warm temperatures Thursday and Friday. The heat is on for the weekend along with muggy air. Isolated thunder is possible at times this weekend.

Heating up heading into the weekend with isolated thunder chance 

We should have mostly sunny skies Thursday and Friday with just a few afternoon fair weather cumulus clouds. It will be dry for the vast majority of the state with just the slightest chance of an isolated shower.

The best chance of one or two showers is in southeastern Minnesota. Highs Thursday will be in the mid-80s for much of the state.

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Forecast highs Thursday
National Weather Service

Lows will drop into the 60s Thursday night into Friday with mostly under clear skies statewide.

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Forecast lows Thursday night
National Weather Service

Friday will see temperatures tick up a bit more with upper 80s in portions of southern and western Minnesota. 

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Forecast highs Friday
National Weather Service

We’re still in for a hot weekend with highs near or above 90 Saturday through Monday.

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Forecast highs Saturday and Sunday
National Weather Service

The peak of the heat will be Sunday with muggy air all weekend. The heat index Sunday afternoon will be in the mid to upper 90s with some triple digits in southern and southwestern Minnesota. 

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Forecast heat index values Sunday afternoon
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, via Pivotal Weather

We’ll also have some isolated thunder chances over the weekend but most will remain mainly dry. With Minnesota on the edge of the heat, several minor ripples or upper-level disturbances will ride along the heat ridge touching off some occasional isolated thunder chances, especially at night.

850 Temps
Forecast temperatures and upper level synopsis early in the weekend
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, via Pivotal Weather

The best chances of isolated to spotty thunder will be in the northern half of the state and especially Friday night into early Saturday and again late Sunday. Some of this left over activity could reach the Twin Cities early Saturday and late Sunday.

fri-mon prec
Forecast precipitation 7 p.m. Friday through 7 p.m. Monday
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, via Pivotal Weather

A break from the heat and humidity with cooler temps return for midweek next week. 

Smoky skies

Canadian wildfire smoke continues to blow around the state, especially in northern Minnesota. Satellite imagery and the latest smoke analysis shows elevated smoke statewide but it’s thickest in northwest Minnesota Thursday morning.

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Smoke analysis Thursday morning
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Once again, moderate air quality is forecast statewide Thursday. Luckily, the smoke so far isn’t quite reaching the surface, which would diminish air quality further.

AQ forecast THU
Air quality forecast for Thursday: moderate statewide
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency