Monday, July 20 is serving up a two-part weather story in Minneapolis: an early shot of storms, followed by a sweaty, summertime heat blast. Around daybreak, conditions were mostly clear and about 71°F, but forecasters expected a band of showers and thunderstorms to push through before 8 a.m. Once that moves off to the southeast by mid-morning, the metro is on track for a hot afternoon, with a high near 94°F and heat-index readings pushing into the upper 90s.
Morning Storms And Air Quality
Showers and thunderstorms are likely before 7 a.m., with a lingering chance through about 8 a.m. Brief heavy downpours could drop between a quarter and a half inch of rain in some spots, which may have drivers tapping the brakes on the morning commute. On top of the rain, wildfire smoke is cutting visibility and nudging air quality into the unhealthy range for some areas. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has an Air Quality Alert in place until 11 a.m. Monday, so sensitive groups may want to take it easy outdoors early.
Midday Heat Advisory
The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for Monday, July 20, from noon to 6 p.m. for metro counties including Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka and Washington. Temperatures are expected to climb to around 94°F, with heat-index values nearing the upper 90s, turning the afternoon into a sticky slog for anyone stuck outside. West-southwest winds of 10 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph, are also on tap, so outdoor events, workers and vulnerable residents should be ready for a combination of hot, humid conditions and occasionally gusty breezes.
Plan Ahead
If you have outdoor plans, it is smart to move heavy activity outside of the noon to 6 p.m. window, drink plenty of water and duck into air-conditioned spaces when you can. Libraries, community centers and park splash pads are solid cooling options. On the roads, keep an eye out for any leftover morning downpours that can quickly reduce visibility, and be prepared for those afternoon wind gusts that can give your steering wheel a little extra tug.
