Minneapolis stepped out into a wall of warmth and humidity on Thursday, July 2, 2026, with temperatures in the low 70s and air that felt more like late afternoon than early morning. Forecasters say the heat will crank up to near 90°F by late day, with heat-index readings pushing into the mid-90s. Another round of thunderstorms is lined up for Thursday night into early Friday, July 3, 2026, with the potential for damaging wind gusts and pockets of heavy rain. Evening plans could need a last-minute shuffle if storms roll in and stall, dropping quick, intense downpours.
Afternoon Heat And Humidity
Mostly sunny skies are expected to drive highs into the upper 80s to around 90°F Thursday afternoon. Light south winds around 0 to 5 mph will not offer much relief, and dew points in the upper 60s to near 70°F will keep things feeling sticky. Heat-index values could climb into the mid-90s, so anyone working or playing outside should ease up on strenuous activity and drink plenty of water.
Thursday Night Into Early Friday
Thunderstorms are forecast to fire up late Thursday evening and expand overnight, with the highest odds between midnight and 5 a.m. Friday, July 3, 2026. Some of these storms may bring damaging straight-line wind gusts along with heavy rain, with a quick quarter to half an inch possible in a short burst. Because storms may drift slowly or bunch up in clusters, localized flooding and sudden wind damage could develop. Travelers and anyone with late-night outdoor plans should monitor watches and warnings.
Holiday Weekend Outlook
Friday, July 3, 2026, is expected to rebound to near 85°F, with showers and thunderstorms likely before noon and the chance for heavier rainfall totals of about a half to three quarters of an inch in some locations by Friday night. Saturday, July 4, 2026, looks cooler with a high near 82°F, but showers and thunderstorms remain likely, and new rainfall between three quarters of an inch and one inch is possible, according to the National Weather Service Twin Cities. Sunday trends drier with highs in the mid-80s, shaping up as the best bet for outdoor plans over the holiday weekend.
How To Stay Safe
Keep a rain-ready backup for evening events, and head indoors at the first sound of thunder or flash of lightning. Avoid driving through standing water, and secure loose outdoor items before gusty winds arrive. Anyone who relies on electricity for medical equipment should keep backup power charged or know where to go for air-conditioned shelter if an outage occurs.
This story updates earlier coverage of the same storm system. For background and timing tweaks, see our July 1 update on the stormy wake-up forecast. We will post further updates if watches or warnings are issued, and the latest forecast is always available through the National Weather Service link above.
