textproduct: Twin Cities

KEY MESSAGES

- Turning cooler and much less humid tonight. The cooler air will persist through midweek.

- Heat and humidity return next weekend.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 248 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

A cold front/occluded front is located from southwest MN to the border area of northeast MN and northwest WI. Temperatures are heating up through the 80s on either side of the front, but dew points are considerably higher in the warm sector where 70s and even some lower 80s are being measured. Heat indices are approaching or exceeding 100 throughout the Heat Advisory area. As the front continues southeast and the base of the mid level trough begins to swing through, thunderstorms are expected to develop and become severe. Various WoFS runs highlight north central and northeast WI and IA as the main target areas with minimum between these two areas likely due to the thunderstorm complex early this morning. In our area specifically, Rusk, Chippewa, and Eau Claire counties stand the best chance for activity going forward. However, this will depend how long it takes for convective initiation to occur. If this takes another few hours, it is likely to miss those counties as well. When storms form they will be capable of all severe hazards.

Much drier air will continue working southeast into the evening. The HRRR smoke model has hinted at some light smoke advecting in on the northwest flow tonight, but upstream visibilities are nearly unrestricted. Some 8 and 9 mile reports, but nothing like the past several days. High pressure will build overhead Tuesday night. Highs in the upper 70s to low 80s and lows in the 50s or 60s will bring much needed relief from the recent heat through Thursday. Ridging will return to the central U.S. next weekend. The Upper Midwest will be on the northern periphery this time instead of directly beneath it, so this may begin a more active convective pattern heading into next week. There will be some very hot air over the Plains that should occasionally move in. Highs by Sunday may be solidly in the 90s.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1232 PM CDT Mon Jul 20 2026

MVFR stratocu have developed immediately ahead of the cold front in response to very high low level moisture pooling. Some have developed into light showers, with TS just west of MKT at TAF issuance time. MKT and EAU have a chance at precip for the first hour or so of the TAF, then dry weather should prevail area wide thereafter. Winds will shift west northwest and gust 20-30 kts this afternoon with skies clearing behind the front. Some lower clouds may work in late tonight per forecast soundings, then lift and scatter late Tuesday morning.

KMSP...The front should clear early this afternoon, ending any TSRA threat. WNW winds will increase this afternoon with gusts continuing through much of the period.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ WED...VFR. Wind NW 5 kts. THU...VFR. Wind SW 10 kts. FRI...VFR. Wind SW 10-15 kts.

MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MN...Heat Advisory until 6 PM CDT this evening for Anoka-Carver- Dakota-Goodhue-Hennepin-Ramsey-Rice-Scott-Washington. Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for Blue Earth-Brown- Faribault-Freeborn-Le Sueur-Martin-Nicollet-Sibley-Steele- Waseca-Watonwan. WI...None.