Hot, dry weather and wildfire smoke are elevating ground-level ozone across most of Minnesota today.

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The last full weekend of August and meteorological summer will be a steamy one.

A tropical air mass is oozing northward from the Gulf of Mexico toward Minnesota. This weekend brings rising temperatures and tropical humidity levels with dew points back into the sweaty 70s. 

Below, check out the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model. It shows dew points ramping up from Friday morning’s comfy 50s to steamy 70s by Saturday and Sunday afternoon. 

There is a chance for a few scattered thundershowers as the warm front begins to bubble north Friday morning. NOAA’s FV3 model shows a few scattered cells drifting southeast across eastern Minnesota early Friday.

The forecast model loop below runs between 1 and 10 a.m. Friday.

Highs Friday will be mostly in the low 80s across Minnesota.

The weekend looks mainly dry. By Saturday, temperatures will ramp up into the mid-80s.

Sunday brings the hottest and most humid day. Highs near 90 degrees are likely.

Next week still looks summery with highs mostly in the 80s. There are still signs of a colder front as September arrives.

Paul Huttner

Author

Heat and humidity build this weekend

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