Comfortable Wednesday evening; hot Thursday with spotty storms ahead

Temperatures drop back into the 60s and 50s Wednesday night

Min T THU
Forecast low temperature Wednesday night into early Thursday
National Weather Service

We have a comfortable Wednesday night coming with lows in the 60s in the south and 50s north. The heat returns Thursday for many. Dew points also increase in the next 36 hours, with spotty thunderstorms possible Thursday night into Saturday.

A comfortable overnight before heat returns

Wednesday brought some relief from the heat, although temperatures were still above normal for the time of year. Morning low temperatures were cool even in parts of northern Minnesota with a low of 47 degrees in Two Harbors and 48 in Cook early Wednesday morning.

We can expect a comfortable overnight again for most with lows in the 60s and 50s.

lows THU 2
Forecast low temperatures Wednesday night
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Pivotal Weather

The heat builds back in Thursday with highs back in the low 90s for southern Minnesota and dew points creeping back into the 60s. The more humid air will be especially noticeable Friday.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

Thu HIGHS NWS 2pm
Forecast high temperatures Thursday
National Weather Service

Spotty storms possible amid dry stretch

We’ve been drying out thanks to the hot, sunny days for many areas. That’s not all bad news. Rainy Lake has finally seen water levels slowly drop the last several days now.

Rainy Lake 2
Rainy Lake water levels
Water Office Government of Canada

In portions of central and south central Minnesota into Western Wisconsin, however, soil moisture content is getting low.

soil moisture
Soil moisture content
NASA

We do have the chance of spotty storms Friday and Saturday as a cool front moves across Minnesota but it may not bring a whole lot of precipitation in southern Minnesota.

QPF 72 PM update
Forecast precipitation through early Saturday
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

There’s also a marginal risk (level 1 out of 5) of some isolated severe weather Thursday night and Friday.

SVR NWS
Severe weather outlook Thursday and Friday
National Weather Service

Beyond that we will likely see highs only in the 70s Sunday.