Strong storms possible Wednesday followed by more hot days
We could see some more 90-degree days to start August
![day 1 8a](https://img.apmcdn.org/875231a4153b8b6f8ca9f9b90dbb9cf686637983/uncropped/782bc4-20240731-day-1-8a-1024.png)
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It will be a hot and very humid Wednesday. A disturbance will touch off potentially strong storms late in the day into the overnight. Sunshine returns for Friday and Saturday along with heat.
Hot and humid with strong storms potentially
Brace yourself for a hot one Wednesday. Highs will be near 90 for much of central and southern Minnesota and dew points could climb into the mid-70s.
![wed hi 5](https://img.apmcdn.org/bd1a00a7297993d27d266cf3018c362619151d7f/uncropped/667b86-20240730-wed-hi-5-515.png)
That could make for a heat index of near 100 degrees at times for portions of southern Minnesota late Wednesday afternoon.
![wed heat index 5](https://img.apmcdn.org/627a00e3dedcec13c6e3691412ee286f23bd9310/uncropped/b2503f-20240730-wed-heat-index-5-515.png)
An upper level disturbance moving into the region will touch off thunderstorms in the eastern Dakotas and western Minnesota that will track east late in the day Wednesday into the overnight. A potential bow echo scenario could develop with damaging wind gusts and large hail tracking across southern Minnesota.
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There’s an enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) forecast for southwest Minnesota Wednesday into Wednesday night. A slight risk (level 2 of 5) is forecast for much of the rest of central and southern Minnesota. The main threats will be damaging wind gusts and large hail.
![day 1 8a](https://img.apmcdn.org/875231a4153b8b6f8ca9f9b90dbb9cf686637983/uncropped/782bc4-20240731-day-1-8a-1024.png)
In particular, severe wind gusts look likely with storms that develop, especially in eastern South Dakota into southwest Minnesota into western Iowa. A hatched area in southwest Minnesota equates to a higher risk of potential severe gusts over 70 mph.
![wind](https://img.apmcdn.org/e6cf0d1c3dc46bd0992e5dd863a2db668eb16775/uncropped/a816e9-20240731-wind-1024.png)
Forecast models hint at severe wind gusts (red and brown colors below) tracking across southern Minnesota and Iowa late this afternoon and evening.
![HRRR winds](https://img.apmcdn.org/88639f01493e1236248cc1536f998c38eac0c946/uncropped/29d31d-20240731-hrrr-winds-984.png)
In addition to the wind threat, large hail, in excess of 2 inches in diamater is possible. The hatched region means there’s a 10 percent or greater chance of hail more than 2 inches in diameter.
![hail](https://img.apmcdn.org/60772da2c94d3ee359ed5a48bfb10081cea51a89/uncropped/ff2558-20240731-hail-1024.png)
There could be some lingering showers and clouds Thursday morning, but clouds will decrease through the day.
![wed-thu 8a](https://img.apmcdn.org/bbc6568db6a7fbcf9f6a6a7f42a6b2af175e6014/uncropped/94c1b8-20240731-wed-thu-8a-660.gif)
Friday and Saturday look hot and mostly sunny with highs potentially near 90. Two cool fronts will drop temps and dew points finally next week starting Sunday. By next week we may be dealing with slightly cooler than normal temperatures.
![850 T anom](https://img.apmcdn.org/256904788bf160c71998c7e4d2da7550a0e8781a/uncropped/9d0496-20240731-850-t-anom-660.gif)