Steamy Sunday

Todd's SCTIMES Outlook for St. Cloud and all of Central Minnesota:

SUNDAY: A few lingering storms north in the AM, more possibly developing late afternoon/evening - otherwise hot, hazy and humid. Potentially dangerous levels of heat/humidity. Dew point: 79. Heat Index: 110-115. High: 95. Winds: South 5-15mph

SUNDAY NIGHT: Slight chance of a passing shower or storm overnight, otherwise partly cloudy and very warm. Low: 78.

MONDAY: Lingering AM storms possible, then heating up! 100-degree heat also possible under sizzling PM sunshine. Low: 80. High: 95 - Heat Index up to 115

TUESDAY: Still "stinking hot". No relief yet. Low: 78. High: 95

WEDNESDAY: Heatwave lingers. Free sauna. Low: 79. High: 93

THURSDAY: Hazy sun, isolated storm late. Low: 77. High: 92

FRIDAY: More numerous storms, steamy. Low: 75. High: 91

 

SATURDAY: Chance for a shower or storm, not quite as hot. Low: 72. High 90.

 

...EXCESSIVE HEAT AND HUMIDITY THROUGH MUCH OF THE WEEK AHEAD...

.OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN IN THE 70S WITH HIGH HUMIDITY
ALLOWING LITTLE OPPORTUNITY FOR COOLING NON-AIR CONDITIONED
BUILDINGS.

DUE TO THE EXPECTED PROLONGED PERIOD OF THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY...
AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA...INCLUDING THE TWIN CITIES...AND ADJOINING
AREAS OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...THROUGH 9 PM ON WEDNESDAY. AN
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING WILL BEGIN FOR THE REMAINDER OF WEST
CENTRAL WISCONSIN ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT
THROUGH 9 PM ON WEDNESDAY.

AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES WILL EXCEED 105 DEGREES FOR SEVERAL
HOURS EACH AFTERNOON...WITH OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES ONLY
FALLING INTO THE MIDDLE 70S TO LOWER 80S.

THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL
COMBINE TO CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES
ARE LIKELY. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED
ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND
NEIGHBORS.

Excessive Heat Continues

I think it's safe to say that this stretch of hot, hazy and humid weather will be our LONGEST stretch of hot weather this summer. Including both days this weekend, we'll be spending nearly 7 to 10 days with temps in the 90s and dew points in the tropical category. A/C's are running overtime now, neighbors are complaining and the mosquitoes are relentless - YES - this is summer in Minnesota! I don't know about you, but I'd rather be sweating than shivering in -40F wind chills! Regardless of what kind of weather you like, this heat CAN and IS serious, make sure you take the proper precautions: Limit your time outdoors, drink plenty of fluids and check in on sensitive groups. This is quite a heat wave, in fact I count 18 states under EXCESS HEAT HEADLINES, where temperatures are at dangerous levels and can be life threatening in not taken seriously.

Why Is It So Hot?

The strong upper level winds have lifted north into Canada, allowing a massive bubble of heat and humidity to lift north along with it. 

 

National Temps For Sunday

National Heat Index For Sunday

 

Johnny Cash Comes to Mind - Burning Ring of Fire

Do you remember that old song: Ring of Fire? Typically in a weather setup like this, showers and thunderstorms will fire up on the outer ring of the extreme heat, right near where the strong upper level winds are situated. Take a look at the map below, notice how there are scattered clusters of showers and storms rotating around the dome of extreme heat and humidity in a ring-like fashion. These storms show up as an orangeish or reddish color, like fire, thus the name "Ring of Fire".

This "Ring of Fire" has set up nearly on top of us and that is why we've had so much rain as of late. The radar rain estimates over the last 7 days are quite impressive - note the widespread 5" to 6" and perhaps even 7" amount showing up around the Twin Cities:

Photos Courtesy Jay Gustafson - Fridley Flooding

Train Wreck Resulted From a Rail Road Bridge Washout Near Rice Creek

Not Quite Done With the Thunder or Rain Chances

As long as we're close to the "Ring" mentioned above, we're not quite out of the woods when is comes to rain and thunder chances. In fact today, parts of MN are under a SLIGHT RISK of severe weather:

Severe Risk For Sunday

Heavy Rain Chances Continue

If storms fire late Sunday into Monday, there is a chance that they could produce some additional heavy rainfall. The image below suggest that there could be up to an additional (nearly 2") from PM Sunday in to PM Monday

Springbrook Nature Center Tornado - July 18th, 1986 - 25 Years Later

Looking for something to do today? Come check out the Springbrook Nature Center as they take a look back on the July 18th, 1986 tornado, 25 years later. You may remember this well as it was captured LIVE by the Kare 11 helicopter. I'll actually be talking about the tornado there around 3pm, come check it out!

For more information, check it out HERE: 

Thanks for checking in - have a wonderful rest of your weekend!

Meteorologist Todd Nelson