Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Steamy opening weekend for Minnesota State Fair

Sunday temps near 90 with dew points in the 70s

Forecast high temperatures Sunday
Forecast high temperatures Sunday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

I call it Wurzer Weather.

As I type this post, I just finished my weekly live weather chat with Cathy Wurzer on the MPR News midday program Minnesota Now. Cathy is fond of hot, sticky weather during the summer. When temperatures bump 90 degrees and dew points climb through the 60s toward 70 degrees, Cathy is a happy weather camper.

She’s going to love this upcoming weekend, but you may want to take it a little slow and hydrate in the shade if you plan to stroll the grounds this weekend at the Minnesota State Fair.

The first two days of this year’s fair look nearly ideal. Highs Thursday and Friday will run in the upper 70s to lower 80s across Minnesota.

Forecast high temperatures Friday
Forecast high temperatures Friday
NOAA

There’s just a slight chance for a stray thundershower early Thursday morning and again late Thursday night.

Heat builds this weekend

The calendar says late August but July-level heat and humidity are not done with Minnesota just yet. A hot sticky air mass oozes north this weekend. Highs will run well into the 80s on Saturday.

Forecast high temperatures Saturday
Forecast high temperatures Saturday
NOAA

By Sunday, much of southern Minnesota will push the 90-degree mark.

Forecast high temperatures Sunday
Forecast high temperatures Sunday
NOAA

Throw in dew points in the 70s and it will feel like the upper 90s in many areas on Sunday afternoon. If you like it steamy, Sunday is your day at the fair or on the lake.

NOAA GFS dew point output
Global Forecast System dew point output between 7 a.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday
NOAA, via Tropical Tidbits

Our warm and humid weekend air mass lingers into next week, but there are signs of much cooler temperatures behind a cold front late next week.

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

Stay tuned.