Minneapolis is bracing for a medley of weather conditions this week, starting with smoke-filled skies and transitioning into a potential stormy resurgence. According to the National Weather Service, the city will experience areas of smoke and sunny conditions today with highs nearing 86 degrees and a slight chance of thunderstorms later tonight.
The same source predicts continued smoke after 8 a.m. on Monday and mostly sunny skies with high temperatures approaching 90 degrees. However, air quality remains a concern as an alert is in effect until Monday morning due to heavy smoke from Canadian wildfires. In addition, the possibility of severe thunderstorms starting Tuesday afternoon brings a new layer of complexity to the weather landscape, with large hail and destructive wind gusts identified as the primary threats.
As Tuesday rolls in, Minneapolis can expect a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m., with similar conditions extending into the night. A greater chance of precipitation at 70 percent is forecasted for Tuesday night, "Showers and thunderstorms likely before 1am," according to information released by the National Weather Service.
Heading towards midweek, there's a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday, followed by a drop in temperature to near 74 degrees. Air quality issues owing to the wildfire smoke may persist, but the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has indicated air quality should improve by Sunday evening. Another round of smoke, however, could affect northern Minnesota by Sunday night, posing increased risks for sensitive groups such as people with lung disease and heart disease.
Transitioning into the latter part of the week, Thursday expects mostly sunny weather with a high around 74 degrees. The National Weather Service's Hazardous Weather Outlook notes the possibility of a 20 to 30 percent chance of showers from Friday into Saturday, accompanying the mostly sunny to partly sunny conditions late in the week.
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