It's a good thing Minnesota is the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" (and more) because we're going to need it this 4th of July. It'll be a warm and muggy one.
A heat advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service for far western Minnesota on Thursday, and that head advisory gets to the Twin Cities for Friday - the 4th.
Thursday, heat index values reach the triple digits for areas around Granite Falls and Madison, Minnesota starting at 3:00 p.m. Thursday. That heat ramps up into the rest of the state for the holiday, says WCCO-TV Chief Meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
"Not dangerously hot, but over the next few days take all those precautions we talked about during our excessive heat warnings when it felt like the triple digits," Shaffer says. "Make sure you stay hydrated, seek out some shade if you can, and just kind of take it easy and enjoy it."
There is good news mixed into this. For the first time in three years, it'll stay dry for 4th of July fireworks. Rain is likely to move in but not until well after the boomers wrap up.
"Yes, there is a chance of rain in far northwestern Minnesota, but most of us are going to get through the fireworks dry," Shaffer says. "Now, you will be wet, but that'll be sweat because it's going to be very hot and humid.
Shaffer says this is shaping up to be a summer heatwave. The Twin Cities snuck up to 90 late in the day Wednesday, will hit 90 on Thursday and into the low 90s for Friday. The difference from Wednesday? You guessed it, humidity.
"If you've been outside, the air's a little heavier," says Shaffer on the WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar. "You can feel it. The dew point is up around 67, so it's humid out there already and as we heat up, you'll feel that stuffiness throughout the day."
That humidity sticks in the overnight hours as well with temps only dropping to about 73, so those without air conditioning are really going to feel it.
The weekend is a different story with much cooler temps and less humidity.
"That rain's gonna hold off until overnight and we'll have scattered showers on and off on Saturday," Shaffer explains. "Not a washout, but just something you'll have to plan around. It will be a little cooler because of the rain, 83 the high. Sunday, the refreshing day, you could open the windows again, partly cloudy, 80 and much less humid."
HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM FRIDAY
* WHAT...Heat index values up to 99 expected.
* WHERE...Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington Counties.
* WHEN...From noon to 8 PM Friday.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.
FORECAST
THURSDAY: Partly cloudy with isolated showers possible, high 90. SW wind 5-10 mph.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Low: 68. SE winds wind 3-6 mph.
FRIDAY: Partly cloudy and humid, high 91. SE wind 5-10 mph for a hot, humid and breezy for the 4th.
WEEKEND: Shower chances return late Friday and will cool off the weekend. Look for some scattered rain on Saturday.