Race officials with the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon are warning runners to be extra careful in light of the forecast temperatures this weekend.
"I think this is going to be the hottest on record for the marathon, and I'm saying mid-80s which is kind of bizarre when you consider the normals now are in the upper 60s, that's where we should be," explains WCCO Radio Chief Meteorologist Paul Douglas.
Marathon organizers expect to issue a "Red Flag" alert for all of the weekend's activities, meaning those with previous heat stress problems or heart issues should not participate in either Saturday's 10K or Sunday's race itself.
They also say they'll have extra medical personnel on site for the event. Douglas adds the humidity will play a factor as well.
"It's not just heat, it's the humidity," Douglas predicts. "Dew points are going to be up in the 60s. So yeah, it's going to feel sweaty out there this weekend. More typical of late-July or early-August."
Race organizers are urging 'plenty of hydration' for anyone participants. High temperatures are expected to be 81 Saturday and 83 Sunday with sunny skies. The races take place between Minneapolis and St. Paul.
They are also asking runners to safely share your medical information with the medical team in case of emergency, saying that having the information can be a big difference for their medical staff. Get more information on that here.