There is a lot of work to do at the state fairgrounds and Tuesday and Wednesday it is being done in extreme heat. With the clock ticking toward Thursday morning's big opening workers at the Minnesota State Fair are working under tough conditions as they prepare for the opening.
Nate Kulenkamp is helping to put up a new sign at the Poutine Booth at the fairgrounds and says even small things like working on a ladder get treacherous.
"You just want to make sure your footing is really good going up this ladder here, because it's one thing to fall down on the ground and it's another to fall off the ladder," says Kulenkamp.
Owner Matt Raybar says the crew is taking a lot of breaks, and there is air conditioning inside the booth if they need to cool off. He says he's happy to hear we may be in for some nice weather once the fair starts.
"I'll take this heat if we can get fair weather like they're predicting," says Raybar. "That's a blessing."
There are "misters" on the fairgrounds for workers to cool off as well.
That fair weather looks like it will come in by the weekend, with Thursday still staying a little unseasonable. WCCO Chief Meteorologist Paul Douglas says after Wednesday's excessive heat warning, things begin to settle down.
"Each day gets progressively more comfortable into the weekend," says Douglas. "Day one of the State Fair, still low 90s, still muggy, still uncomfortable. People will be complaining. Friday there could be a storm late in the day but it's going to be in the 80s which will feel like nirvana. Then the weekend, low 80s, low humidity, the dew point in the 50s. Beautiful weather for the fair, the lake, whatever you have planned."
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