It could be our hottest Labor Day weekend ever. At a minimum, it will be unseasonably hot for early September. WCCO Chief Meteorologist Paul Douglas says 90s are coming back strong.
In fact, there is an outside chance we might crack 100 degrees which is not just rare overall in the Twin Cities, it's exceedingly rare in September. It's happened once: September 10, 1931 (a scorching 104 degrees). That was in the heat of the Dust Bowl which led to some of Minnesota's hottest weather ever.
"I'm not convinced it's going to get to 100 in the Twin Cities," Douglas said. "The sun, as high in the sky by Sunday, as it was back in the second week of April."
Still, it's remarkable we'll be as hot as 90+ according to Douglas.
"It has me shaking my head. Mid to upper 90s? Absolutely," say Douglas.
That means Sunday could be the hottest day at the Minnesota State Fair in 92 years. Yep, September 10, 1931. That was when the State Fair ran only in September.
Records or not, it's just going to be hot. Temperatures begin to climb on Friday with a high around 90. It's mid-90s on Saturday and then scorching for Sunday and Monday. Tuesday's forecast high is in the low 90s which means five straight days above 90 to start September. That's some start of meteorological fall.
"The heat index not as hot as it was a couple of weeks ago, but it's still going to feel like 105 in the shade Sunday afternoon," predicts Douglas.
Douglas says no matter what you're doing whether it's at the fair, on the lake, or just doing things outside, be careful of this heat. So far, there is no heat advisory from the National Weather Service.
If you're planning to escape up north and head to the lake, it won't be much better.
Detroit Lakes will be in the low to mid 90s all weekend, Brainerd should touch 97 on Sunday, Duluth will shockingly hit 93 Sunday, and even International Falls will creep up on 90.
You might find some slight relief in Grand Marais where it will "only" be in the low to mid 80s, a downright scorcher for the North Shore town that is normally much cooler than the rest of the state thanks to Lake Superior's influence.
Stay cool Minnesota.
Forecast
Friday- Sunny, with a high near 91 and breezy.
Saturday- Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 94.
Sunday- Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.
Labor Day- Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.
Tuesday- A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.