Threat Of Severe Storms To Follow Heat Advisory
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Minnesotans in the central part of the state look to be in a for a double whammy of extreme weather Sunday as a heat advisory in the afternoon will be followed by the possibility of severe storms.
The heat advisory, which goes in effect at 1 p.m., covers more than 20 counties in central Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro, and is slated to last until 8 p.m. The National Weather Service says heat indices will range from 95 to 100 degrees, with the possibility of 105 degrees in western Minnesota.
Such heat, coupled with high humidity, increases the risk of heat-related illnesses. It's recommended that people stay in air-conditioned spaces, avoid long periods of exposure to the sun and drink lots of water if outside.
A cold front moving in from the Dakotas will bring the possibility of severe weather in the afternoon and evening. Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says storms will start sparking up along a line from Alexandria to Brainerd around 4 p.m., bringing the possibility of strong winds, hail and even tornadoes.
The line of storms will move across the central part of the state, stretching form Mankato in the south to Duluth in the north. The storm clouds will arrive over the Twin Cities in the evening, bringing the threat of strong winds and hail.
Earlier Sunday, storms across the Canadian border brought tennis ball-sized hail, a testament to how charged the atmosphere is.
Looking ahead, Monday will bring relief from the heat with highs only climbing to the low 80s. The rest of the week looks to be much the same, with little chance of rain.