Beautiful start to the State Fair; warmup on the way

Temperatures remain slightly cooler for Thursday, with seasonal temperatures for Friday. We will see our dew points increasing with warm air moving in for the weekend and highs returning to the 90s.

Great start for fair’s first day

And we’re off! The gates have opened at the Minnesota State Fair, the crowds have gathered and the weather is behaving. It was a glorious start with temperatures around 60 degrees and winds out of the south around 10-15 mph.

There is a noticeable increase in our cloud cover as showers and thunderstorms continue for western and central Minnesota. This shower activity will gradually decrease as it heads east, but showers possible into early Thursday afternoon for the metro area.

The next chance for widespread precipitation comes closer to midnight into the overnight and early Friday morning. Here are Thursday’s forecast conditions for the fairgrounds:

• 12 p.m., temperatures around 71 degrees, south wind 10-15 mph, mostly cloudy, slight chance for showers

• 3 p.m., temperatures around 73, south wind 10 mph, mostly cloudy, good chance for showers

• 6 p.m., temperatures around 75, south wind 10 mph, partly to mostly cloudy

• 9 p.m. temperatures around 71, south wind 5-10 mph, partly to mostly cloudy

Friday’s forecast calls for seasonal temperatures around 80 degrees. Dew points will start out comfortable and then slowly crawl into the low 60s by Friday evening. There will be a bit more cloud cover to start the day but sunshine and dew points will increase through the day.

Here are Friday’s forecast conditions at the fair:

• 7a.m., temperature 64 degrees, south-southwest wind 10 mph, partly to mostly cloudy, slight chance for showers

• 9 a.m., 67 degrees, south-southwest wind 5-10 mph, partly to mostly cloudy

• 12 p.m., 74 degrees, south-southwest wind 5-10 mph, partly cloudy

• 3 p.m., 81 degrees, dew points in the low 60s, south wind 5 mph, partly cloudy

• 6 p.m., 79 degrees, dew point 63, south wind 5 mph, clear to partly cloudy

• 9 p.m., 73 degrees, dew point 65, south wind 5 mph, clear to partly cloudy

Muggy, hot weekend ahead

The forecast is still on track for 90s to return to the Upper Midwest this weekend. Look for highs in the lower to mid-80s on Saturday, and warmer upper 80s to low 90s for Sunday.

Dew points will increase to the uncomfortable to slightly oppressive category. Dew points in the 70s on Sunday, combined with the temperatures will push our heat index values into the upper 90s to low 100s.

If you plan on heading out to the fair this weekend, remember to drink plenty of water, wear light colored clothing, take breaks in the shade and take it easy.

Come meet your weather team!

Join Paul, Sven and me on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 3:30pm at the MPR booth near the corner of Judson Avenue and Nelson Street. We look forward to meeting you!