As the last lingering thunderstorms make their exit from southeastern Minnesota on Wednesday morning, skies are finally clearing, bringing relief to the region. However, the heat is not over yet, as a heat advisory is now in effect for midday Wednesday through Thursday evening for the Twin Cities and much of central Minnesota into western Wisconsin.
Overnight storms brought much-needed rainfall to certain areas, offering some respite from the ongoing drought. The showers also brought about some severe weather, with scattered wind damage reported in parts of west-central and southeastern Minnesota.
The heavy rain brought up to 3 inches of precipitation near the Willmar area, with 1 to 2 inches falling through New Prague, Northfield, and into Zumbrota. The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport received 1.01 inches of rain, and St. Paul recorded 1.45 inches, marking the heaviest precipitation in the Twin Cities since March 31.
Despite the rainfall, severe drought-stricken areas were largely missed, except for Olmsted County, which saw better rainfall from the lingering storms early Wednesday.
Temperatures are expected to soar again into the 90s with muggy dew points, leading to a heat index in the mid to upper 90s. A heat advisory is now in effect for much of east-central and south-central Minnesota into western Wisconsin, including the Twin Cities area. Thursday will bring similar heat, with highs back in the mid to upper 90s and heat index values reaching or slightly surpassing triple digits in southern Minnesota.
Along with the heat, air quality could be a concern due to ozone for much of the Twin Cities and surrounding areas in the afternoon hours on both Wednesday and Thursday.
Thunderstorm chances are still ahead for the northern half of the state late Wednesday evening into the overnight, and spotty storms are possible in central and southern Minnesota on Thursday, with a chance of statewide storms on Friday as cooler air moves into the region.
The weekend will see slightly cooler temperatures, with highs remaining under 90 degrees for a few days.
As the region continues to face challenges from both weather extremes and the ongoing drought, residents are advised to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions to stay safe and comfortable during this period of heat.
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