WeatherTalk Blog

July Climate Summary:July of 2026 will be long remembered for its persistent heat and record poor air quality, as well as the wildfires in the BWCA.

Average monthly temperatures were generally from 4°F to 6°F above normal across the state, placing this month among the 5 or 6 warmest Julys in state history. In northeastern Minnesota some climate stations reported their 2nd warmest July in history, while in north-central Minnesota it was the third warmest.

Many climate observers reported 12 or more days with maximum temperatures of 90°F or greater, and some reported as many at 15 such days. Climate observers in 7 counties reported at least one day with a maximum temperature of 100°F or greater. Remarkably, both Kettle Falls (100°F on the 14th) and Seagull Lake (101°F on the 13th) reported temperatures reaching the century mark for the first time in history there.

The NOAA National Weather Service issued multiple Heat Advisories and Extreme Heat Warnings during the month, with Heat Index Values over 100°F at dozens of locations around the state. In fact on Sunday, July 26 Heat Index Values reached near record or record values at some locations in the southern and central counties of the state, ranging from 110°F to 120°F. St James in Watonwan County reported a Heat Index of 122°F on that date. The NOAA-National Weather Service Forecast Office in Chanhassen included a summary of the heat on their web page.

Almost all of the Heat Advisories and Extreme Heat Warnings were provoked by very high dew points, which ranged from 75°F to 85°F at times. In fact, some climate stations reported multiple days with dew points of 80°F or higher, record-setting at most locations.

The heat was persistent with most observers reporting 26 or 27 days with warmer than normal temperatures and only 4 or 5 with cooler than normal temperatures. Within the state climate station network, we set or tied 45 daily high maximum temperature records, including 98°F on the 12th and 97°F on the 13th at International Falls (the nation’s Ice Box). We also set or tied daily warm minimum temperature records 72 times including 75°F at Baudette on the 13th and 14th.

Temperature extremes for the month were 104°F an Meander (St Louis County) on the 13th and 35°F at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center (Lake County) on the 6th. There were a number of days during the month when northern Minnesota was warmer than southern Minnesota, a real anomaly for the month of July.

In the Twin Cities, a record was established for the month of July as 19 days brought an overnight minimum temperature of 70°F or higher, breaking the record of 18 days from July of 1935. For the Twin Cities climate record, this July was the 6th warmest in history based on mean monthly temperature. The Twin Cities finished July with 14 days bringing high temperatures of 90°F or greater, the most since July of 2006. The Twin Cities also reported a maximum temperature of 100°F on July 27th.

With most fire outbreaks triggered by lightning storms, close to 25 wildfires were reported in July. Their spread and ferocity was amplified by the heat and dryness as they burned over 77,00 acres mostly across the Superior National Forest, closing down the BWCA. Even at month’s end, a number of fires were nowhere near fully contained.

July was drier than normal in most areas of Minnesota, except for some south-central and southeastern counties where strong thunderstorms brought above normal rainfall. At least a dozen climate stations in those areas reported record daily rainfall amounts, including 7.30 inches at Grand Meadow, 5.41 inches at Preston and 5.28 inches at Caledonia on July 2nd, and 5.95 inches at Austin on July 9th. Conversely, many northern areas of the state reported less than 1.50 inches of rain for the entire month. Some of the extreme wet and dry rainfall totals for the month include:

13.39 inches at Spring Valley (Fillmore County)
13.20 inches at Grand Meadow (Mower County)
11.88 inches at Austin (Mower County)
10.27 inches at Ellendale (Steele County)

0.87 inches at Pequot Lakes (Crow Wind County)
0.90 inches at Lake Wilson (Murray County)
1.20 inches at Pine River Dam (Crow Wing County)
1.28 inches at Kettle Falls (St Louis County)

Please note these figures exclude most of the substantial rainfall from July 30-31, some of which will be reported as rainfall on August 1st because of the observers observation cycle. This is unfortunate because some of the rainfall for July 31 was record-breaking, such as the 2.16 inches at Wheaton (Traverse County) and 1.57 inches at Marshall (Lyon County). Some other observers reported 3 inches or more.

With the drier than normal month in most areas of the state, drought expanded by three-fold in terms of state area designated to be in either Moderate Drought or Severe Drought. As the month finished this week, Moderate Drought occupied 41 percent of the state landscape and Severe Drought occupied 35 percent.

The USDA weekly crop condition report for Minnesota this week showed a disturbing trend. Reports show that the percent of the state corn crop in good to excellent condition dropped to 77 percent, while the percent of the state soybean crop in good to excellent condition dropped to 78 percent. In these combined categories crop conditions for both crops had been above 80 percent all summer, but the heat and dryness definitely had some negative consequences.

More details on the July climate in Minnesota can be found at the Minnesota State Climatology Office web site under the Climate Journal section.
Weekly Weather Potpourri:The United Kingdom Environmental Agency declared this week that half of the country is now in drought and water conservation measures will be emphasized. River volume is low, wildfire risk is increasing and some farmers are harvesting crops early. This is the third drought in the past 5 years (2022, 2025, and now 2026). Heat waves have added to the negative impacts.

This week’s AGU-EOS Bulletin has a fascinating article about recent research into derechos (straight line wind storms) that occur across the USA. Scientists have compiled a detailed 70 year archive of such storms and are finding they form in three regions of the USA: the Midwest/Ohio Valley, the Northern Plains, and the Southern Plains. They are also responsible for some of the most widespread power outages ever reported in the USA.
MPR listener question:We saw that the Twin Cities did hit the century mark in temperature this month with a maximum temperature of 100°F on the 27th. How often do we see 100°F or greater during July from a historical basis?
Answer:In the last 155 years of climate records for the Twin Cities, July has brought at least 100°F or greater day only 26 times (about 17 percent of the time). It happened 8 times in July of 1936, and the last time July produced a 100°F or greater temperature in the Twin Cities was 2012.

Twin Cities Almanac for July 31st:

The average MSP high temperature for this date is 83 degrees F (plus or minus 6 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is.65 degrees F (plus or minus 6 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for July 31st:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 105 degrees F in 1988; lowest daily maximum temperature of 68 degrees F in 1898; lowest daily minimum temperature of 47 degrees F in 1924; highest daily minimum temperature of 80 degrees F in 2006, and record precipitation of 0.79 inches in 1911. No snowfall has occurred on this date.

Average dew point for July 31st is 60°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 78°F in 1987 and the minimum dew point on this date is 39 degrees F in 1936.
All-time statewide records for July 31st:The state record high temperature for this date is.110 degrees F at Madison (Lac Qui Parle County) in 1988. The state record low temperature for this date is 31 degrees F at Sawbill Camp (Cook County) in 1937. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 6.70 inches at Albert Lea (Freeborn County) in 1961. No snow has fallen on this date.
Past Weather:On July 31 of 1903, 14 communities in northern Minnesota reported morning low temperatures in the 30s F. There was even frost in the area around Warroad. Under constant cloud cover and with a cool north wind, the climate observer at Luverne (Rock County) reported a daytime high temperature of only 57°F.

July 31 of 1988 brought record-setting high maximum temperatures to most parts of Minnesota. After temperatures of 100°F or greater were reported from 37 counties. In Kandiyohi County it was a difficult night to sleep as the overnight low was a very warm 80°F.

During the record-setting wet summer of 1993, strong thunderstorms brought 2-4 inches of rain to many parts of southern and central Minnesota. New London (Kandiyohi County) reported over 5 inches of rain. This storm concluded a very wet month of July, with many climate stations reporting total monthly rainfall from 7 to 11 inches.
Outlook:Temperatures fall back closer to normal and even cooler than normal in sone places over the weekend and remain that way through the first week of August. There will be an increasing chance for showers and thunderstorms beginning later on Monday and into Wednesday. Mostly sunny days thereafter to the weekend.

July Heat Has Been Extraordinary:Last week I wrote about the combination of heat and poor air quality, but further analysis shows that the heat was very extraordinary. For example, the statewide average temperature for the 10 days from July 11 to July 20 was 77°F. This is the second highest statewide average temperature in history for this 10-day period, surpassed only by 1936 when the 10-day statewide average was 82.6°F. During this 10-day interval this month, there were 43 daily maximum temperature records set within the state climate station network, including three very unusual ones. Baudette measured 99°F on July 12th, International Falls measured 98°F on July 12th, and Gunflint Lake measured 98°F on July 14th. These temperatures are among the warmest ever measured at those three locations. Even more astonishing, Kettle Falls on the border with Canada and imbedded in Voyageurs National Park, reported a record high temperature of 100°F on July 14, the highest temperature ever measured there. Further, the Kettle Falls reading was the highest temperature in the state on that date!

In addition to the record high maximum temperatures reported around the state, there were also over 60 record warm minimum temperatures reported, many in the mid to upper 70s F. Both Baudette and Cass Lake reported record high minimum temperatures on July 13th of 75°F. A further note was provided by former State Climatologist Greg Spoden who reported that the 10 consecutive days from July 11-20 produced a record longevity streak for the month of July in the Twin Cities climate record, as the minimum temperature remained 71°F or higher. This 10 day streak is only surpassed by the 11 days from July 24 too August 2 of 1935 when the overnight minimum temperatures were all 71°F or greater.

The persistent heat and lack of rainfall contributed over the past week to an expansion of drought across Minnesota. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor 31 percent of the state landscape is in Moderate Drought and 17 percent is in Severe Drought. Most of these areas are in north-central, northeast, and southwester Minnesota. Except for this coming Sunday, chances for rain look slim for the remainder of July. So, I expect that drought areas will continue to expand. According to USDA reports, 80 percent of the state’s corn and soybean crops remain in good to excellent condition, sustained by stored soil moisture deeper in the soil rootzone.
Minnesota temperature trivia:During the state’s hottest month ever, July of 1936, nearly every corner of the state, except some areas along the north shore of Lake Superior, recorded at least one 100°F day as well as multiple 90°F days. But on July 24 of 1936 weather observers at Sawbill Camp in Cook County reported a frost, with a morning low temperature of 32°F. Go figure. I am sure very dry air had a lot to do with it.
Professor Lewis F. Richardson, non-conformistOne of the pioneers in numerical weather prediction in the early 20th century (using the equations of fluid dynamics to solve for motions and turbulent flows in the atmosphere), Professor Richardson was one of the most esteemed members of the British Meteorological Office. Before computer technology was available, Professor Richardson proposed that numerical weather predictions could be made using scores of desk top calculators to solve the basic equations of atmospheric motions.

A highly religious man, he was a conscientious objector during WWI and served in an ambulance unit in France from 1916-1919. Described as short-tempered and without respect for authority, he was considered a maverick in the British scientific community.

In 1920, he resigned from the Meteorological Office when it became part of the Air Ministry and somewhat more dedicated to supporting military operations. Losing his research talents was a bitter blow to the Meteorological Office. Richardson then spent the rest of his career primarily as a teacher and a researcher who attempted to model the statistics of war. In later life he wrote two books on war and peace. He died in 1953, but today there is a Richardson Institute for Conflict and Peace Research which helps carry on his work.
Weekly Weather Potpourri:The National Academy of Science recently released a new report entitled “Attribution of Extreme Weather and Climate Events and Their Impacts 2026.” This report is quite significant in demonstrating the improvements in attribution science that lead to greater confidence in associating various extreme weather and climate events with climate change. More comprehensive datasets, as well as compilation of a longer history of events has produced greater certainty in attribution science. Extreme events related to heat, cold, heavy rainfall events, and droughts are easier to tie together with climate change.

According to the BBC portions of Wales in the United Kingdom are suffering from wildfires and drought. Water flows in streams and rivers are very low. Rainfall has been scarce this month, with only about 5 percent of normal reported so far in July. This July is on course to become the driest in 190 years for Wales. Water conservation is being stressed.

The NOAA-National Hurricane Center reports that Hurricane Fausto is moving west across the Central Pacific Ocean and is expected to degrade to a Tropical Storm status as it approaches Hawaii by Tuesday of next week. It is currently producing winds of 85 mph and moving west at about 14 mph.
MPR listener question:Our parents sometimes talk about the famous flash flood of July 23 in 1987 when their basement flooded in the Twin Cities. They said that 10 inches of rain fell, and you commented in one of your books that it was one of the most intense rains ever in Minnesota in terms of hourly rainfall rates. What was the maximum rainfall rate?
Answer:Yes, this remains one of the most intense rainstorms ever in Minnesota. The 10 inches of rain was measured over 6 hours, but according to several recording rain gauges the maximum rainfall rate approached nearly 3 inches in one hour. That is equivalent to most tropical storms and hurricanes. Another rainstorm that came close to a rainfall rate of 3 inches per hour was the famous August 30, 1977 storm that closed the State Fairgrounds. That storm delivered 7.28 inches of rain over a short period of time.
Twin Cities Almanac for July 24th:The average MSP high temperature for this date is 83 degrees F (plus or minus 7 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is.65 degrees F (plus or minus 6 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for July 24th:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 104 degrees F in 1941; lowest daily maximum temperature of 65 degrees F in 1915; lowest daily minimum temperature of 49 degrees F in 1891; highest daily minimum temperature of 78 degrees F in 1934, and record precipitation of 1.69 inches in 2012. No snowfall has occurred on this date.

Average dew point for July 24th is 61°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 78°F in 1941 and the minimum dew point on this date is 39 degrees F in 1946.
All-time statewide records for July 24th:The state record high temperature for this date is.110 degrees F at New London (Kandiyohi County) in 1901 and at Canby (Yellow Medicine County) in 1940. The state record low temperature for this date is 26 degrees F at Tower (St Louis County) in 2004. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 5.50 inches at New Richland (Waseca County) in 1902. No snow has fallen on this date.
Past Weather:An intense Heat Wave gripped southern and central Minnesota in late July of 1901. On July 24th, the temperature reached 100°F or greater in 26 counties. The overnight low temperatures were record-setting warm too, mostly in the mid to upper 70s F. Faribault (Rice County) reported an overnight minimum temperature of 82°F. The Heat Wave which had started on July 13th, thankfully ended by July 26th.

On July 24 of 1987 thousands of Minnesota citizens were trying to clean up flooded basements following the terrible flash flood of July 23-24. Many climate stations in eastern Minnesota reported 4 to 6 inches of rainfall overnight, with widespread street flooding. The core areas around the Twin Cities reported 7 to 10 inches of rainfall and portions of the 494-694 interstate corridor around the cities had to be closed become of flooding. This storm came in the middle of what was otherwise a summer of drought for much of the state.

It was a record-setting cold morning on July 24 of 2004. Over 70 climate stations reported record low temperatures, with 30s F reported in at least 3 northeastern Minnesota counties. Frosts were reported at Brimson, Embarrass, Hibbing, and Tower. It was the second consecutive year with frosts on July 24th for some northern communities. Daytime highs only reached the low 60s F along the north shore of Lake Superior.
Outlook:We will see a return to well above normal temperatures this weekend with a chance for showers and thunderstorms on Sunday night. The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Watch for both Saturday and Sunday for much of the southern half of Minnesota. Temperatures in the 90s F with Heat Index Values over 100°F are expected in many areas. Temperatures will remain warmer than normal for the last week of July, with little chance for rain, except in the far north there will be a slight chance Wednesday night into Thursday.

July Heat Wave coupled with worst air quality:Since last Friday, many Minnesota climate stations have been reporting daily temperatures that are from 8°F to 14°F above normal for this time of year, with many reporting continuous days with maximum temperatures of 90°F or greater. In addition, many stations have reported several consecutive nights of overnight minimum temperatures ranging from 70°F to 76°F. More than a dozen long-term climate stations have reported some record-setting daily high temperatures, including International Falls with 98°F on the 12th, Duluth with 91°F on the 12th, and Cass Lake with 95°F on the 13th. In addition, there have been over 30 reports of record-setting warm nights, including a minimum temperature of 75°F at Detroit Lakes on the 12th.

Higher dew points this week have pushed daily Heat Index Values into the triple digits for many locations around the state, especially over Monday through Wednesday when many areas reported Heat Index Values from 101°F to 108°F. These values imposed a great deal of stress on outdoor workers, as well as farm livestock.

The daily Air Quality Index values grew worse and worse this week, producing some of the worst AQI values ever measured in the state of Minnesota, in some cases 500 to 800 for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The persistence of unhealthy AQI readings of 150 or higher caused cancellation of many outdoor activities, including the Wednesday night and Thursday matches at the USA Cup Youth Soccer matches in Blaine, MN. The AQI readings at Blaine were above 200 from 4pm on Wednesday (July 15) right through 8pm on Thursday evening and were not expected to drop below 150 until overnight Thursday into Friday. USA Cup soccer matches were expected to resume on Friday morning.

Friday morning brought terrible AQI readings to northeastern Minnesota, ranging from 400-900, but thankfully rain showers were moving across north-central and northeastern areas of the state, including the BWCA. Some observers had already reported half inch to over an inch of rain by 8am. This is welcome news for the firefighting in the area. The DNR-State Climatology Office website provide a good summary of the AQI across the state this week. Their analysis suggests the worst AQI ever observed in Minnesota has occurred this week.

Besides the horrible air quality and oppressive heat this week, there was also expansion of the drought in areas across Minnesota. Moderate Drought expanded to 25 percent of the state landscape, while Severe Drought expanded to 13 percent. Wildfires in the BWCA expanded rapidly under the hot and dry conditions and combined with wildfires in Canada to spread smole plumes widely across the Great Lakes Region and into the northeastern states. Air Quality Alerts were issued in 12 or more states by Thursday of this week.

Next week is expected to bring more moderate temperatures, but not much rainfall. Hopefully overall air quality will improve as well, but some further episodes of unhealthy AQI readings are likely.
Weekly Weather Potpourri:Jonathan Erdman takes a comprehensive look at the wildfire situation across Canada and Minnesota in his post on the Weather Channel website. There are over 800 wildfires currently in Canada that are contributing to the smoke plumes observed in satellite imagery across North America. Northwest winds aloft have been bringing the smoke from western Canada and Manitoba to areas of the Great Lakes and northeast USA. These winds are expected to persist through much of July.

There is a good article on the BBC website this week that describes the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC - a vast, north-south system of currents that carries warm surface water towards the Arctic and returns colder water thousands of miles south through the deep ocean. This ocean circulation pattern has been in place for thousands of years and helps regulate the moderate climate of Western Europe. It may be subject to change during the 21st Century due to the rapidly changing climate of high latitudes in the North Atlantic.
MPR listener question:So far, I see we have recorded 9 days in the Twin Cities this year with a daytime high temperature of 90°F. What is the average number of days per year when we have such temperatures, and have we ever had a year without a 90°F temperature?
Answer:The long-term average number of days per year with a high temperature of 90°F or higher for the Twin Cities is about 15 days. There have been 3 years when no 90°F days were reported. Those years were 1900, 1915, and 1993.
Twin Cities Almanac for July 17th:The average MSP high temperature for this date is 84 degrees F (plus or minus 7 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is.66 degrees F (plus or minus 6 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for July 17th:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 99 degrees F in 1936; lowest daily maximum temperature of 65 degrees F in 2009; lowest daily minimum temperature of 52 degrees F in 1976; highest daily minimum temperature of 79 degrees F in 2011, and record precipitation of 3.71 inches in 1997. No snowfall has occurred on this date.

Average dew point for July 17th is 62°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 81°F in 2011 and the minimum dew point on this date is 38 degrees F in 1911.
All-time statewide records for July 17th:The state record high temperature for this date is.110 degrees F at Worthington (Nobles County) in 1936. The state record low temperature for this date is 33 degrees F at Bigfork (Itasca County) in 1971. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 5.90 inches at Gull Lake (Cass County) in 1952. No snow has fallen on this date.
Past Weather:July 17, 1936 was the hottest in history with 25 Minnesota communities reporting afternoon temperatures of 100°F or greater. It was the middle of the deadly Heat Wave from July 5-19 that killed hundreds of Minnesota citizens.

Strong thunderstorms dropped 2-5 inches of rain across portions of central Minnesota over July 16-17, 1952. Gull Lake reported nearly 6 inches which washed out a number of roads in the area.

Campers in northern Minnesota woke up to temperatures in the 30s F on July 17, 1971. At Big Fork (Itasca County) the temperature started out at 33°F but rose by 40 to 73°F by 4pm.

July 17 of 2011 began a 3-day Heat Wave across Minnesota that brought record dew points and high Heat Index Values to scores of communities around the state, including 112°F at Fergus Falls, 116°F at Hallock, 123°F at Pelican Rapids, and 134°F at Moorhead. The Heat Index in the Twin Cities was over 100°F each of the 3 days, reaching 119°F on the 19th.
Outlook:Modestly cooler weather over the weekend, with chances for showers and thunderstorms on Sunday and Monday. Continued more moderate temperatures for much of next week with some days being cooler than normal. There is little chance for rain most of next week.

Warm and Wet Start to July:Through the first 9 days of July temperatures around the state are averaging 2°F to 4°F warmer than normal, mostly due to warm nights. In fact, Preston (Fillmore County) reported a record warm night on July 1st with a minimum temperature of 77°F. At least 16 counties have reported daytime high temperatures of 90°F or greater this month, but no daily record high temperatures have been reported.

Many parts of the state have measured rainfall on 5 or 6 days, and in some cases the rain has come in record amounts. Over 20 long term climate stations have reported record daily rainfalls this month, including:

1.47 inches at Rochester on the 1st
7.30 inches at Grand Meadow on the 2nd
2.50 inches at Hokah on the 3rd
1.64 inches at Cass Lake on the 4th
4.00 inches at New York Mills on the 5th
3.15 inches at Onamia on the 8th
5.95 inches at Austion on the 9th

For the July 1-9 period many observers have reported from 2 to 5 inches of rainfall, while in southeastern counties amounts range from 6 to 9 inches. This is one of the wettest starts to July in that area of the state.

The frequent and surplus rainfall in southeastern counties has helped reduce areas of Moderate Drought, but according to the U.S. Drought Monitor Moderate Drought persists in much of north-central and southwestern Minnesota, with some imbedded areas of Severe Drought. According to USDA reports over 80 of the Minnesota corn and soybean crops remain in good to excellent condition at this time, though there is some concern that forecast models consistently favor dryness across the state over the next three weeks.
Weekly Weather Potpourri:The NOAA-National Weather Service Forecast Office in Grand Forks, ND web site features a good summary about the severe weather across that region on July 6th, including the tornado that did damage and caused injury around Floyd Lake north of Detroit Lakes in Becker County. This storm rated EF-2 (max winds 111mph to 135 mph) and was on the ground for 6.8 miles, difficult to see because of the rain shield around it. Approximately 30 tornadoes have been reported from Minnesota so far this year.

The BBC Weather Center reports this week that a new UK heat record has been established. There have now been 8 days with temperatures of 93°F or higher reported somewhere in the country this year. This breaks the old record of 7 such days reported in both 1976 and 2020. Temperatures were as high as 96°F this week in Surrey.
MPR listener question:We live on a farm near the border of Mower and Fillmore Counties in southeastern Minnesota not far from Hamilton. We have already measured 11 inches of rain this month. Can you tell us what the record monthly rainfall in our area is for July?
Answer:Looking at the long-term climate records in your area of the state I find that Austin Waste Water Treatment Plant reports July rainfall so far of 11.03 inches which breaks their record for wettest ever July (formerly 10.20 inches in 1999). Spring Valley reports 11.26 inches of rain so far this July, which breaks their record for wettest July (formerly 10.10 inches back in 2022). But the all-time record for your area of the state in terms of July rainfall is 13.48 inches at Grand Meadow back in 1999. The current observer at Grand Meadow reports 11.15 inches so far this month and we still have 3 weeks to go.
Twin Cities Almanac for July 10th:The average MSP high temperature for this date is 84 degrees F (plus or minus 8 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is.66 degrees F (plus or minus 6 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for July 10th:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 106 degrees F in 1936; lowest daily maximum temperature of 69 degrees F in 1945; lowest daily minimum temperature of 49 degrees F in 1996; highest daily minimum temperature of 80 degrees F in 1936, and record precipitation of 1.93 inches in 2002. No snowfall has occurred on this date.

Average dew point for July 10th is 59°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 79°F in 1966 and the minimum dew point on this date is 37 degrees F in 1931.
All-time statewide records for July 10th:The state record high temperature for this date is.112 degrees F at Wadena (Wadena County) in 1936. The state record low temperature for this date is 32 degrees F at Tower (St Louis County) in 1978. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 7.02 inches at Leech Lake (Cass County) in 1954. No snow has fallen on this date.
Past Weather:July 10 of 1936 was record-setting across all parts of Minnesota as the state was in the grip of its worst Heat Wave. Over 70 climate stations reported afternoon temperatures of 100°F or greater. There was little relief from the heat at night, as overnight minimum temperatures of 80°F or higher were measured in many communities. The Heat Wave was in full force from July 5 to July 18.

Campers in northern Minnesota awoke to a cool morning on July 10 of 1978, as many areas reported morning low temperatures in the 30s F. In fact four climate stations reported record low temperatures, including just 32°F at Tower. Daytime high temperatures only reached the mid 60s F in some areas.

Thunderstorms brought heavy rains and flash flooding to portions of northwestern, central, and south-central counties over July 9-11 of 2002. Many climate observers reported over 4 inches of rain, while five counties reported over 5 inches. Widespread street flooding was reported in St Cloud, Sauk Center, and Fergus Falls, and basement flooding was common in the Fridley area of the Twin Cities.
Outlook:Temperatures will continue to warm above normal under sunny skies over the weekend and will remain above normal throughout the coming week. It will also be a dry week for most areas of the state with slight chances for showers and thunderstorms in the far north by Wednesday or Thursday.

Record dew points for June 29 combined with severe weather:Monday, June 29th was by far the warmest day of the summer so far. Afternoon Heat Index Values widely ranged from 100°F to 108°F. There were even some values as high as 110°F to 112°F reported at some western and southern locations. The Heat Index Values were driven by record high dew points.

Daily record high dew points of 78°F occurred at MSP and St Cloud, as well as at Rochester with a dew point of 79°F. There were widespread reports of record dew points between 80°F and 84°F within the state climate station network, especially from western and southern counties.

Some stations reporting dew points of 80°F or higher included:
Preston
Austin
Albert Lea
Dodge Center
St James
New Ulm
Slayton
Worthington
Pipestone
Benson,
Appleton
Morris
Sauk Center
Willmar
Glenwood
Fergus Falls
Princeton

In my 48 years of reporting on Minnesota weather I have never seen such widespread reports of dew points this high in the month of June.

The sultry air mass on June 29 produced some severe weather as well, as there were reports of brief tornadoes in Clay, Becker, and St Louis Counties in the north, as well as reports of large hail from 9 counties, including 3 inch diameter hail near Moorhead. Some thunderstorm related wind gusts topped 60 mph. Many areas of the state reported rainfall from 1 inch to over 3 inches. Some of the record rainfall amounts included:

3.04 inches at Silver Bay
2.63 inches at Brimson
2.59 inches at Two Harbors
2.58 inches at Wolf Ridge
2.07 inches at Tettegouche
1.60 inches at Winnebago

The DNR-State Climatology Office produced a brief summary of these storms on its web site.

Despite ending the month of June with hot and wet weather, the Minnesota landscape entered the month of July with about 19 percent of its land area in Moderate Drought, and 12 percent in Severe Drought.
Weekly Weather Potpourri:According to the BBC and the UK Met Office the month of June was the warmest in history for England and the second warmest for the UK as a whole. There were many record-setting warm days and warm nights during June of 2026, including the highest daily maximum temperature ever measured in the country, 99.9°F at Lingwood in Norfolk on June 26. Record high temperatures were also prevalent during June across many parts of Western Europe and followed on the heals of a warmer than normal month of May.

Speaking of the June Heat Wave in Western Europe, France24 news service reported this week that 2025 people died in France during the June 22-28 Heat Wave. Many of the deaths were in the Paris region. Health officials claimed that this count was preliminary, as a comprehensive survey of deaths attributed to the Heat Wave was not yet available. Many areas of the country reported triple digit temperatures during the Heat Wave. Yet more heat is expected to prevail across the UK, France and Spain beginning this weekend.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center was tracking two large storms this week in the Western Pacific Ocean. Typhoon Bavi is expected to strengthen and threaten damage to Guam over thw weekend with winds up to 150 mph. Remnants of Typhoon Maysak were bringing rain and wind to Hainan (China) and to portions of Vietnam as it is expected to die out over the weekend.
MPR listener question:We heard that some southeastern areas of the state reported 4 to 6 inches of rainfall on Thursday this week, with one report of 6.66 inches from Caledonia (Houston County). Would that be a statewide record for July 2nd?
Answer:The statewide record for July 2nd is 6.44 inches at Newfolden (Marshall County) in 1901, so yes that would be a new statewide record if the report from Caledonia is deemed accurate. However, I also noticed a report of 7.30 inches from a climate observer at Grand Meadow (Mower County) for July 2nd this week, so indeed that would be a new statewide record. The storms Thursday dumped widespread rains of 4 to 6 inches over portions of Houston, Winona, Fillmore, Mower, and Olmsted Counties, with lots of flooded roads and highways. Some daily record rainfalls reported on that day included:

3.62 inches at La Crescent

3.31 inches at Minnesota City

5.72 inchers at Preston

 

What a start to July!
Twin Cities Almanac for July 3rd:The average MSP high temperature for this date is 83 degrees F (plus or minus 8 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is.65 degrees F (plus or minus 6 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for July 3rd:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 100 degrees F in 1990; lowest daily maximum temperature of 62 degrees F in 1927; lowest daily minimum temperature of 47 degrees F in 1967; highest daily minimum temperature of 79 degrees F in 1949, and record precipitation of 3.70 inches in 1879. No snowfall has occurred on this date.

Average dew point for July 3rd is 59°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 77°F in 1999 and the minimum dew point on this date is 38 degrees F in 1941.
All-time statewide records for July 3rd:The state record high temperature for this date is.107 degrees F at Beardsley (Big Stone County) in 1949. The state record low temperature for this date is 23 degrees F at Kabetogama (St Louis County) in 2000. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 5.60 inches at Tracy (Lyon County) in 2018. No snow has fallen on this date.
Past Weather:Campers in northern Minnesota awoke to very cold temperatures on July 3 of 1927. Climate observers in four northeastern counties reported morning low temperatures in the 30s F, and it was just 29°F at Meadowlands (St Louis County). With cloud cover and northwest winds during the day, many climate stations reported daytime high temperatures only in the 50s F, including just 52°F at Collegeville.

Record-setting hot weather gripped the state of Minnesota on July 3 of 1949. Over 50 climate stations reported record-setting maximum temperatures. The thermometers reached 100 degrees F or greater in 19 counties. There were also many record warm overnight temperatures. At least six climate stations reported overnight low temperatures of 80°F or greater.

An air mass with very high dew points settled over Minnesota on July 3 of 1983. Many strong afternoon thunderstorms developed and produced record-setting rainfall. Over 25 Minnesota climate stations reported record rainfall that day, in many cases over 2 inches. Hawley (Clay County) in the Red River Valley reported nearly 4 inches of rain, which flooded farm fields, while Itasca State Park reported nearly 5 inches of rain, closing down park roads for a time.
Outlook:Near normal temperatures on Saturday, but with chances for showers and thunderstorms throughout the day and evening in many areas of the state. Mostly sunny on Sunday, with warmer temperatures. Temperatures will fluctuate around seasonal normal for next week, perhaps a little above normal in some areas. There will be slight changes for showers and thunderstorms each day. There will be increased chances for showers and thunderstorms late on Wednesday and into Thursday.

Preliminary Climate Summary for June of 2026:The beginning and the end of June were dominated by warmer than normal temperatures, while during the middle of the month cooler than normal temperatures prevailed. Over 30 daily high warm minimum temperature records were set within the state climate network early in the month, including 72°F at Albert Lea (Freeborn County) on June 10th. High dew points also brought Heat Index Values between 95°F and 102°F to parts of the state over June 9-10. During the middle part of the month a handful of cold temperature records were set within the state climate network, including a record low minimum temperature of 37°F and a record cold maximum temperature of 53°F at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center (Lake County).

Overall, most climate stations will report a mean monthly temperature for June of 2026 that is near normal, or 1°F to 3°F above normal. Extremes for the month were 97°F at Benson (Swift County) on the 10th and 32°F at Celina (St Louis County) on the 19th. Over 40 climate stations reported at least one day with a maximum temperature of 90°F or higher. Even more 90°F are expected over the last three days of the month (Sun-Tue).

Rainfall was highly variable around Minnesota during June of 2026. Though many climate observers reported 12 or more days with rain, amounts were generally light and few daily rainfall records were set. Most areas of the state reported total monthly rainfall over 3 inches, while a few parts of southeastern and west-central Minnesota reported between 5 and 7 inches. A few spotty areas in the north reported less than 1.50 inches of total rainfall. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, both Moderate and Severe Drought areas expanded over the state during June. Approximately 27 percent of the state landscape is in Moderate Drought and 14 percent is in Severe Drought as the month concludes.

There were many windy days during June with wind gusts of 30 mph or greater, mostly in western and southern counties. Redwood Falls, Moorhead, and Rochester all reported gusts of 30 mph or greater on half of the days in the month.

Earlier in the week, USDA estimate that between 75 percent and 80 percent of the Minnesota corn and soybean crops were in good to excellent condition.
Weekly Weather Potpourri:BBC news featured several articles about the Heat Wave in Western Europe this week. Portions of France reported daily high temperatures of 110°F, while portions of Spain were 112°F. In the U.K. where air conditioning is not especially widespread, citizens found it difficult to cope with temperatures ranging from 93°F to 96°F, setting many record high values within their climate station network.

The Weather Channel web site reports on year-to-date tornado activity around the nation so far in 2026. Surprisingly, Illinois has reported the most tornadoes so far this year with 196. The climate in Illinois for the spring was unusually warm and humid. For comparison with neighboring states, Indiana has reported 75 tornadoes so far this year, while Iowa has reported 64. I could not find a preliminary number for Minnesota so far.
MPR listener question:The cold east wind which is normal in Duluth for April and May, continues now to blow cold all through June. When will the more welcome west and south winds come and warm things up along the Lake Superior shore?
Answer:Indeed, I see from the Duluth climate station that over a third of the days this month have seen cool winds from the east and several other days cold have brought cold north winds.. Climatology shows that July brings a much higher frequency of winds from the west and that is exactly what is going to happen over the next week or so. Starting next Monday, June 29th the wind pattern should change with prevailing westerly wind the last two days of June and the first week of July. This will bring warmer temperatures to Duluth as we conclude the month and go into July.
Twin Cities Almanac for June 26th:The average MSP high temperature for this date is 82 degrees F (plus or minus 8 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is.64 degrees F (plus or minus 7 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for June 26th:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 99 degrees F in 1931; lowest daily maximum temperature of 55 degrees F in 1968; lowest daily minimum temperature of 46 degrees F in 1926; highest daily minimum temperature of 78 degrees F in 1931, and record precipitation of 2.54 inches in 1998. No snowfall has occurred on this date.

Average dew point for June 26th is 58°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 76°F in 1953 and the minimum dew point on this date is 31 degrees F in 1992.
All-time statewide records for June 26th:The state record high temperature for this date is.106 degrees F at Milan (Chippewa County) in 1933 and at Faribault (Rice County) in 1934. The state record low temperature for this date is 26 degrees F at Kelliher (Beltrami County) in 2003. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 5.20 inches at Morris (Stevens County) in 1914. No snow has fallen on this date.
Past Weather:Slow-moving thunderstorms brought heavy rains to Minnesota over June 26-27 of 1914. Many observers reported 2 to 3 inches of rain. Morris (Stevens County) reported over 5 inches, with some wheat fields washed out as well. June of 1914 was one of the wettest in state history, with many climate stations reporting 10 to 14 inches of rainfall for the month.

Over 25 Minnesota climate stations reported record high maximum temperatures on the afternoon of June 26 in 1933. Thirteen Minnesota counties reported a temperature of 100°F or greater. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms brought cooler air to many parts of western Minnesota.

Campers in northern Minnesota awoke to some frost on the morning of June 26 in 1982. Eight climate stations reported morning temperatures in the low to mid 30s F. Observers at Grand Marais and Duluth Harbors reported that daytime high temperatures remained in the 50s F that day, certainly low enough for jackets and sweatshirts.
Outlook:Much warmer over the weekend with very humid conditions returning to the state as well. Temperatures will be near normal Saturday but then climb to well above normal for Sunday through at least Thursday of next week. With higher dew points, Heat Index Values may range from 100°F to 110°F in some parts of the state on Monday. There will be chances for showers and thunderstorms late Saturday night and into Sunday, then again Monday night. Each day next week will bring chances for showers and thunderstorms as well as high dew points. Many areas of the state will see daytime highs in the 90s F.

Heat dissipates, but welcome rain continues:After a very warm start to the month, temperatures have significantly cooled off. Since last Friday, most climate stations have seen average temperatures that are 4.0°F to 7.0°F cooler than normal. In fact, Brimson, Embarrass, Grand Marais, Hibbing, Big Fork, Hibbing, Cook, and Wolf Ridge all reported morning low temperatures in the 30s F this week. Grand Marais reported a daily high temperature of only 53°F on June 16th.

In addition, since last Friday, most areas of the state have seen at least 4 days bring more rain. In almost all cases the rain has been welcomed, with total amounts for this last week ranging from three-quarters of an inch to 2.00 inches. About 25 percent of the climate observers in the state now report over 3 inches of rain for the month so far. Drought status is still precarious for some north-central and southwestern counties (Moderate to Severe Drought), as rain continues to miss those areas. But at least the outlook models continue to favor more than average rainfall for the remainder of the month with temperatures mostly near normal or below normal, until the last few days of the month when daily highs will climb back into the 80s F.

According to USDA crop condition reports from earlier this week, about 80 percent of the corn and soybean crops in Minnesota are judged to be in good to excellent condition and making good growth progress.
Weekly Weather Potpourri:This week the NOAA National Hurricane Center was tracking Tropical Storm Arthur in the Gulf of Mexico. It was expected to pose a threat for flash flooding as it migrated onshore and move east. Areas under the threat of flash flooding extended from Lake Charles, LA all the way to Atlanta, GA.

A recent paper in the journal Climate and Atmospheric Science documents a study of over 3000 Alaskan glaciers and how sensitive they are to climate change. For each 1°C of warming the glacial melt season is extended by approximately 3 weeks. Even relatively short summer heat waves rapidly accelerate the loss of protective snow cover and expose more glacial ice to rapid melting.
MPR listener question:You and Cathy have spoken about the strong winds this year and it made us wonder what is the distribution of wind turbines in Minnesota and how do we rank nationally with respect to the number of wind turbines used to generate clean energy?
Answer:According to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database, Minnesota currently ranks 8th in the nation for the number of wind turbines deployed for power generation, with 2736 turbines installed, generating 4829 Megwatts (MW). Greatest concentration of wind turbines is in Nobles, Jackson, Murray, Lincoln, Pipestone, and Rock Counties (all SW MN). There are also significant numbers of wind turbines deployed in Faribault, Martin, and Blue Earth Counties (south-central MN), and a lesser number in Stevens, Pope, and Grant Counties.

I might further add that my mentor at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Donald Baker, was the first climatologist to analyze the potential for wind energy usage in the state in a study he did for Governor Al Quie back in the early 1980s. It was Dr. Baker’s study that served as a foundation for the geographic deployment of wind turbines in the state of Minnesota and he won a state award for doing that work.
Twin Cities Almanac for June 19th:The average MSP high temperature for this date is 80 degrees F (plus or minus 8 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is.62 degrees F (plus or minus 7 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for June 19th:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 100 degrees F in 1933; lowest daily maximum temperature of 56 degrees F in 1946; lowest daily minimum temperature of 41 degrees F in 1950; highest daily minimum temperature of 75 degrees F in 1933, and record precipitation of 4.13 inches in 2014. No snowfall has occurred on this date.

Average dew point for June 19th is 55°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 76°F in 1953 and the minimum dew point on this date is 31 degrees F in 1992.
All-time statewide records for June 19th:The state record high temperature for this date is.109 degrees F at Beardsley (Big Stone County) in 1933. The state record low temperature for this date is 24 degrees F at Embarrass (St Louis County) in 2004. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 8.20 inches at Duluth 4.1 NNE (St Louis County) in 2012. No snow has fallen on this date.
Past Weather:Both 1933 and 1988 brought the hottest temperatures for June 19th historically. Dozens of communities reported afternoon high temperatures of 100°F or greater, with over 100 daily record high temperatures reported for the date. In 1933, Morris set a statewide record warm minimum temperature with an overnight low of 81°F.

Dozens of communities reported record low minimum temperatures on June 19 of 2004. Many parts of central Minnesota reported morning low temperatures in the 30s F, while a few places in the north, like Brimson, Embarrass, and Hibbing reported temperatures in the 20s F. In the north, the afternoon high temperature only reached 53°F at Babbitt and Isabella.

The worst ever flood for the Duluth area occurred over June 19-20 of 2012. Portions of Aitkin, Carlton, St Louis, and Lake Counties received 6 to 10 inches of rain (mostly overnight) from strong slow-moving thunderstorms in the area. Two Harbors reported an all-time 24 hour rainfall record on the morning of June 20 with 10.45 inches. The St Louis River reached an all-time record flood crest in the flooding. The DNR State Climatology Office provided a detailed synopsis of the impact of these storms.
Outlook:Generally sunny, but cooler than normal on Saturday. Increasing cloudiness on Sunday with a chance for showers and thunderstorms, except for northern counties which should remain dry. Continued cooler than normal temperatures next week, with some chances for showers and thunderstorms Tuesday and into Wednesday. Temperatures will climb back closer to normal by next weekend.

Heat and High Dew Points Bring Welcome Widespread Rain:June 9th and 10th this week brought very warm temperatures (over 20 climate stations reported daily highs of 90s°F or greater), along with the highest dew points of the month so far. Many climate stations reported dew points in the low to mid 70s F, and in some cases this produced afternoon Heat Index Values close to 100°F.

All of the first 10 days of June have brought warmer than normal temperatures to Minnesota, though very few daily temperature records have been broken. Most climate stations are reporting an average temperature so far that is from 7°F or 8°F warmer than normal. This means that the first 10 days of this June rank among the top 5 warmest in history for many locations around the state, including the Twin Cities.

The high dew points are measurements directly related to atmospheric water vapor and associated with the showers and thunderstorms that were so prevalent this week. Orwell Dam (Otter Tail County) and La Crescent (Houston County) have already reported over 4 inches of rain this month. But they are the exceptions. Many climate observers from all areas of the state have reported between 1 and 2 inches of rainfall this week, though areas designated to be in Moderate Drought (22 percent of the state landscape) and areas designated to be in Severe Drought (10 percent of the state landscape) expanded over the previous week according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

According to NOAA Outlook models cooler than normal temperatures will prevail across the state from this Saturday through next weekend, with more frequent chances for rainfall. According to the USDA reports 78 percent of Minnesota’s corn crop is currently in good to excellent condition, and 67 percent of the soybean crop is in good to excellent condition.
Weekly Weather Potpourri:According to the BBC Weather Center, the first part of June has brought abundant moisture to many parts of the United Kingdom where rainfall totals already exceed the monthly average for June. In fact, for many areas, June rainfall has exceeded the rainfall totals for March, April, and May combined. Spring was an exceptionally dry one for many parts of southern and eastern England.

The week, the Weather Channel web site features an analysis of the risks associated with excessive heat at the Canadian, American, and Mexican venues that are hosting World Cup soccer matches over the next two months (June 11 to July 19). FIFA has imposed some special measures to keep players and fans safer from the dangers of heat, among them mandatory 3-minute cooling breaks in each half, and later evening starting times to avoid daytime sun and heat. The outdoor conditions at the venues in Miami, FL, and Monterrey, Mexico are thought to be the most challenging. American venues at Houston (TX), Atlanta (GA), and Arlington (TX) are air conditioned, so heat and humidity will not likely affect the players in those games.
MPR listener question:Why is it that dew points seem to rise shortly after sunset in Minnesota? Often times the maximum dew points seem to occur late in the day.
Answer:In our Minnesota climate the boundary layer depth of the atmosphere where a great deal of vertical mixing takes place, grows during the day when the sun is out and heating the Earth’s surface. Thus, the size or volume of the boundary layer increases and along with its capacity to hold water vapor. When the sun goes down, there is a reduction in the vertical mixing of the atmosphere but transpiration (release of water vapor from vegetation) continues to feed moisture into the boundary layer, as the total volume of the boundary layer shrinks. This produces a net gain in atmospheric water content that may last for a few hours. Thus, the higher dew points.
Twin Cities Almanac for June 12th:The average MSP high temperature for this date is 78 degrees F (plus or minus 7 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is.60 degrees F (plus or minus 7 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for June 12th:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 95 degrees F in 1956; lowest daily maximum temperature of 51 degrees F in 1929; lowest daily minimum temperature of 39 degrees F in 1877; highest daily minimum temperature of 72 degrees F in 1920, and record precipitation of 2.35 inches in 1899. No snowfall has occurred on this date.

Average dew point for June 12th is 55°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 74°F in 1961 and the minimum dew point on this date is 30 degrees F in 1969.
All-time statewide records for June 12th:The state record high temperature for this date is.102 degrees F at Crookston (Polk County) in 1893 and at Redwood Falls (Redwood County) in 1956. The state record low temperature for this date is 19 degrees F at Isabella (Lake County) in 2000. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 8.00 inches at Minnesota City (Winona County) in 1899. No snow has fallen on this date.
Past Weather:Thunderstorms brought heavy rains to many parts of southern Minnesota over June 11-12 of 1899. Many observers reported from 2 to 5 inches of rain, while near Faribault and St Charles over 5 inches of rain occurred. At Minnesota City, a state record of 8 inches of rain was measured.

Perhaps the warmest June 12th in state history was in 1956 when over 45 Minnesota climate stations reported record high maximum temperatures, mostly in the 90s F. Four counties in southwestern Minnesota reached 100°F or higher.

A cold morning greeted campers in northern Minnesota on June 12 of 1985. Four northern Minnesota counties reported frosts with some areas recording morning low temperatures in the 20s F. The daytime high temperature at Brainerd only reached 52°F.
Outlook:Cooler and breezy over the weekend, with below normal temperatures and chances for showers in northern counties. This temperature pattern will prevail most of next week. There will be a chance for showers and thunderstorms by Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures rising back closer to normal by next weekend.

Timely rain for some:The rain this week was timely, but highly variable. Over 80 climate observers reported that they received an inch or more of rainfall. A few spots in Stevens and Grant Counties (west-central Minnesota) reported over 2 inches of rain. This time of year as Minnesota crops begin more rapid growth, weekly doses of rain will be more critical. As we enter the second week of June, fully three-quarters of Minnesota corn and soybean fields are estimated to be in good to excellent condition. We will likely need weekly doses of rain to sustain this. Outlooks for at the least the first half of June favor more frequent rain and thunderstorms across the state through at least June 18th.So hopefully, good to excellent crop conditions will be maintained through the month.

With a lot of daytime high temperatures in the 80s F and nighttime lows in the 60s F, most climate stations are reporting average temperatures through the first four days of the month that are 5°F to 7°F warmer than normal. Further, outlook models favor a continued trend toward warmer than normal temperatures for most of the rest of the month, but no where near record warmth.
June is an important month for Minnesota crops:June is arguably the month of the growing season where we see maximum growth rates in our major crops. Such being the case, June weather is often said to be “setting the table” for feast or famine in terms of crop yield potential. Not only is rapid top growth of crops observable in June, when we can see crop canopies fills in and plants grows taller, but also the depth and extent of root growth expands rapidly, as many crops send their roots down to 4 to 6 feet in depth, literally mining the stored soil moisture to meet the increased needs for water during this aggressive crop growth period. The crop demand for water increases to be more than what average weekly rainfall typically provides, so that the overall stored soil moisture in agricultural fields begins to slowly decline. This is where the water holding capacity of Minnesota’s deep, rich agricultural soils becomes a real asset to sustain crop growth. By the end of June, crops typically need an inch or more of water to maintain good health.

Fortunately, June on average is Minnesota’s wettest month, with most agricultural counties reporting average June rainfall totals from 4 inches to 5.50 inches. This is generally sufficient to keep healthy fields of crops. But as we know, June rainfall can be highly variable. In some years (1900, 1910, 1936, 1987, 1988, and 2021), June rainfall has been lacking and brought only 1 to 2 inches of rain, imposing stress on crops and reducing yields. Conversely, other years (1914, 1944, 1968, 1984, 2002, 2014, and 2025) have seen abundant June rainfalls averaging between 6 inches and 8 inches. With Moderate Drought currently affecting portions of southeastern, southwestern, and north-central Minnesota, let’s hope rainfall for this June is normal or above normal to sustain good crop health and yield potential.

Weekly Weather Potpourri:With above normal sunshine prevailing, the UK Met Office and BBC Weather Center reported this week that England and Wales recorded the warmest spring (March, April, May) in history this year, setting many daily temperature records. The spring seasons of 2024, 2025, and 2026 are the three warmest in history. This year the spring was dry as well, setting up concerns for developing drought in parts of the UK.

For those interested in the Southern Hemisphere, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued its winter season outlook last week (for June, July, and August). Overall temperatures are expected to be warmer than normal, with generally less than normal rainfall. There is increased fire danger expected this winter in parts of northwest Australia, especially the Great Sandy Desert.
MPR listener questionWe were wondering which summer month typically brings the highest dew points in Minnesota?
Answer:July brings the highest dew points in Minnesota. Often times dew points in July will reach 70°F or higher and on occasion reach 80°F or higher. In fact, over July 16-19 in 2011, we measured dew points of 80°F or higher on 4 consecutive days across Minnesota. These produced Heat Index values ranging from 110°F to 130°F across the state.
Twin Cities Almanac for June 5th:The average MSP high temperature for this date is 76 degrees F (plus or minus 9 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is.57 degrees F (plus or minus 7 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for June 5th:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 99 degrees F in 2021; lowest daily maximum temperature of 50 degrees F in 1935; lowest daily minimum temperature of 40 degrees F in 2000; highest daily minimum temperature of 78 degrees F in 2021, and record precipitation of 2.53 inches in 1980. No snowfall has occurred on this date.

Average dew point for June 5th is 52°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 77°F in 1925 and the minimum dew point on this date is 21 degrees F in 2009.
All-time statewide records for June 5th:The state record high temperature for this date is.104 degrees F at Granite Falls (Yellow Medicine County) in 2021. The state record low temperature for this date is 18 degrees F at Remer (Cass County) in 1985 The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 5.47 inches at Rosemount (Dakota County) in 1994. No snow has fallen on this date.
Past Weather:There were many reports of record-setting cold temperatures across Minnesota on the morning of June 5 in 1897. Many parts of northern Minnesota saw morning temperatures in the 20s F, while there were crop damaging frosts reported from McLeod, Wabasha, and Hubbard Counties. The afternoon high temperature at Grand Portage only reached 40°F.

Thunderstorms brought heavy rainfall to many parts of southern Minnesota on June 5 of 1994. Many climate stations reported from 2 to 4 inches of rainfall. Farmington reported 4.50 inches and Rosemount reported 5.47 inches with street flooding.

A Heat Wave prevailed on June 5 of 2021 across much of Minnesota. Dozens of climate states reported record-setting high maximum temperatures with most readings in the 90s F. Climate observers in 14 counties reported afternoon temperatures of 100°F or greater. The overnight low temperature at MSP was record-setting warm too at 78°F.
Outlook:Very warm over the weekend with some chances for showers and thunderstorms in central and northern portions of Minnesota later on Sunday and into Monday.. Continued very warm weather next week, with chances for showers statewide on Monday and then again Wednesday and Thursday. Dew points will be much higher.

Preliminary Climate Summary for May of 2026:May brought wide temperature fluctuations across Minnesota, starting out the first half of the month with multiple frosts and many days with colder than normal temperatures. Frosts occurred across even southern Minnesota counties over May 5-6, but most crops were either just planted or too early in their growth to be seriously damaged. Mid-month monthly brought some summerlike temperatures, as well as some Red Flag Warnings because of very low humidity and high winds. The last week of the month brought well above normal temperatures, with many climate stations reporting high temperatures of 90°F or above. May 16th and May 25th brought daily record high temperatures to at least 20 climate stations in the state. International Falls reached a daily record high temperature of 89°F on the 25th.

Overall, northern Minnesota reported mean monthly temperatures that were from 1°F to 3°F cooler than normal, while southern Minnesota climate stations reported mean monthly temperatures that were 1°F to 2°F above normal. Extremes for the month were 95°F on May 25th at Madison (Lac Qui Parle County), Brainerd (Crow Wing County), and Artichoke Lake (Big Stone County); and a low of just 15°F at Brimson (St Louis County) on May 1st.

Precipitation was infrequent, with only 5 to 7 days bringing measurable rainfall to most places. The vast majority of climate stations reported below normal monthly rainfall. Most observers reported between 1 and 2 inches. Among the long-term climate station, only Winnebago (Faribault County) reported above normal rainfall with a little over 4.50 inches. A few locations along the Lake Superior shoreline reported between 0.2 inches and 0.8 inches of snow during the first cold first week of the month. Tofte reported 1.5 inches on May 6th. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, about 11 percent of the Minnesota landscape, mostly north-central counties and southwestern counties, were in Moderate Drought at month’s end. Small portions of Rock and Pipestone Counties were in Severe Drought. At least 18 wildfires were reported during May, mostly mid-month. The two largest were the Flanders Dire (Crow Wing County) at over 1700 acres, and the Stewart Trail Fire (Lake County) estimated at close to 375 acres.

May 17 brought some severe thunderstorms to southern portions of Minnesota. There were at least four tornado reports, mostly minor damage, and some reports of large hail. The Minnesota State Climatology Office web site reported on these storms.

Strong winds occurred with greater than normal frequency during this May. Many climate stations reported 14 to 18 days with wind gusts of 30 mph or greater. There were several reports of 50 mph wind gusts and some as much as 60 mph. Wind blown dust and soil was observed in portions of the Red River Valley.

The outlook for the first half of June looks to favor warmer than normal temperatures, and a drier than normal pattern in terms of rainfall. Let’s hope that pattern does not persist into the second half of the month.
Weekly Weather Potpourri:The BBC Weather Center reported this week on how players are coping with the above normal temperature conditions at the French Open Tennis Tournament. A so-called “heat dome”, warm air trapped under a high pressure system. Temperatures near courtside have soared to as high as 93°F. Electric fans are used to keep players cooler when they are resting, but the heat has made the balls move faster and the court surface harder so it plays faster. In such conditions, player fitness and endurance will be well tested.

The Weather Underground web site reported on a new study about the vulnerability of New Orleans and other southern coastal communities to climate change impacts. Recent research examines how climate change is causing a combination of sea-level rise, sinking land and intensifying extreme weather, and how it is all impacting one of the most vulnerable coastlines in America. Despite climate adaptation efforts to improve local community resilience to climate change, the combination of various impacts may mandate relocation for many people living in the area.
MPR listener question:We heard you suggest a warmer and drier summer might be in store for Minnesota on a recent TPT Almanac episode. Do you still think that this is the case?
Answer:Yes and No. With respect to overall temperature pattern, based on NOAA’s North American Mult-Model Ensemble Outlooks, I think it will be a warmer than normal summer. As for rainfall, it may vary even within the state boundaries, with southern areas of the state seeing above normal rainfall, but northern areas seeing below normal.
Twin Cities Almanac for May 29th:The average MSP high temperature for this date is 74 degrees F (plus or minus 9 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is.55 degrees F (plus or minus 7 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for May 29th:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 94 degrees F in 2018; lowest daily maximum temperature of 53 degrees F in 1947; lowest daily minimum temperature of 33 degrees F in 1965; highest daily minimum temperature of 74 degrees F in 2006, and record precipitation of 2.49 inches in 1942. No snowfall has occurred on this date.

Average dew point for May 29th is 51°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 72°F in 1953 and the minimum dew point on this date is 25 degrees F in 1947.
All-time statewide records for May 29th:The state record high temperature for this date is.104 degrees F at Campbell (Wilkin County) in 1934. The state record low temperature for this date is 19 degrees F at Brimson (St Louis County) in 2021. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 7.50 inches at Thief River Falls (Pennington County) in 1949. A record 2.6 inches of snow fell at Grand Portage (Cook County) on this date in 1897 and at Spring Grove (Houston County) in 1947.
Past Weather:Strong thunderstorms brought heavy rainfall to portions of southern and central Minnesota over May 29-30 in 1942. Many climate observers reported 3 to 5 inches of rainfall, and areas around the Twin Cities reported over 6 inches with widespread street flooding. Downtown St Paul and downtown Minneapolis, along with Milan and Pipestone reported over 10 inches of rainfall that month.

May 28 and 29 of 1965 brought widespread frosts across Minnesota, with morning low temperatures in the 20s F up north and low 30s F in southern counties. Frost occurred as far south as Winona. Corn, potato, and small grains crops were damaged by the late spring frost. Over 40 Minnesota climate stations reported record-setting cold low temperatures.

Record-setting high temperatures prevailed across much of Minnesota on May 29 of 2018. Many communities saw afternoon temperatures of 90°F or higher. Seven southern counties reported daily high temperatures of at least 100°F. The overnight temperature never dropped below 75°F at La Crescent.
Outlook: The last weekend of May will bring warmer than normal temperatures to most of the state, especially in the north. Portions of southern Minnesota will have chances for some thunderstorms later in the day on Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures will continue to be warmer than normal next week, with chances for showers and thunderstorms in the south on Monday, and statewide by Wednesday and Thursday.

Welcome Rain:After a spell of very windy and dry weather last week that produced several days of Red Flag Warnings and resulted in some significant wildfires in northeastern areas of Minnesota, some much needed widespread rains arrived over this past week. Over 350 observers reported from 1 to 2 inches of rainfall over the period from May 15 to May 21. Some areas in south-central and east-central Minnesota reported between 2 and 4 inches of rain. Mapleton in Blue Earth County reported over 4 inches, while Winnebago in Faribault County reported over 3.80 inches. More details on the rain distribution and impact can be found at the Minnesota State Climatology Office web site.

The rain was also welcomed by crop producers around the state, as nearly all the corn and soybeans have been planted and will benefit from the added soil moisture, and alfalfa producers were looking for a rain induced burst of growth before taking their first cuttings this year. With the rain and warming temperatures more vigorous crop growth will be seen around the state in the coming week, when farmers will give more attention to weed control, most likely using post emergence herbicides or rotary hoeing to take care of weeds early in their growth cycle.

Recent weather outlook models favor warmer than normal temperatures for the balance of May and first part of June. They also suggest that rainfall is uncertain whether it will be more or less than normal. The stored soil moisture from the wetter than normal April will likely help most crop stands develop normally as we head into June, which is on average the wettest month of the year.
Weekly Weather Potpourri:This week’s AGU-EOS Bulletin features an article about flood forecasting and how even with machine learning approaches and use of AI models, experienced forecasters bring needed skill sets to better predictions. Among other assets that experienced forecasters use is their ability to recognize poor input data that lead to modeling errors.

The Weather Channel web site reported on the record-setting Heat Wave over May 17-20 that occurred over the Northeast. Over 70 new daily maximum temperature records were set from northern Georgia all the way up to Maine. Philadelphia reached 98°F on May 19th marking the warmest May temperature ever. Newark, NJ reached 99°F and Boston, MA reached 96°F. Fortunately dew points remained in the 60s F, so the Heat Index Values did not soar above 100°F.

A recent article from EGU Weather and Climate Dynamics documents changes in precipitation over Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean. The increases observed in precipitation are likely related to changing dynamics in the Southern Ocean which affect the latent energy available over storm tracks that produce most of the rainfall. Researchers encourage more study of the Southern Ocean and how its temperature and circulation may be altered by climate change.
MPR listener question:We heard your remarks last week about how windy it has been this May. Can you offer some historical comparison?
Answer:I can offer an example. MSP has reported peak hourly wind gusts since 1997. According to the historical data, May of this year has produced over 40 hours with peak wind gusts of 30 mph or greater. The 30-year average for May is about 31 hours. With 10 days to go in the month, there will likely be a few more hours to add to this total. In this context, it is likely that this May will rank about 5th or 6th most hours with wind gusts of 30 mph or greater over the last 30 years. The highest frequency of such wind gusts during May was back in 2022 when measurements show 90 hours with wind gusts of 30 mph or greater.
Twin Cities Almanac for May 22nd:The average MSP high temperature for this date is 71 degrees F (plus or minus 11 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is.52 degrees F (plus or minus 8 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for May 22nd:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 99 degrees F in 1925; lowest daily maximum temperature of 42 degrees F in 1882; lowest daily minimum temperature of 32 degrees F in 1917; highest daily minimum temperature of 74 degrees F in 1921, and record precipitation of 1.20 inches in 1936. No snowfall has occurred on this date.

Average dew point for May 22nd is 46°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 73°F in 1991 and the minimum dew point on this date is 19 degrees F in 1924.
All-time statewide records for May 22nd:The state record high temperature for this date is.10 degrees F at Fairmont (Martin County), New Ulm (Brown County), and Tracy (Lyon County) in 1925. The state record low temperature for this date is 15 degrees F at Remer (Cass County) in 1986. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 5.84 inches at Collegeville (Stearns County) in 1962. A record 8.0 inches of snow fell at Mountain Iron (St Louis County) on this date in 1907.
Past Weather:July-like temperatures prevailed across Minnesota on May 22 of 1921. Many areas recorded afternoon temperatures in the 90s, as far north as Red Lake Falls. Some thunderstorms developed in the late afternoon heat and brought 1 to 2 inch rains in northwestern counties. Grand Marais Harbor on Lake Superior only reached a high of 50°F.

On May 22 of 1924 a hard freeze occurred over portions of western and northern Minnesota with morning temperatures ranging from the low to mid 20s F. Frosts occurred as far south as Canby. The afternoon temperature at Itasca State Park only reached 43°F.

On May 22 of 2001, climate observers at Grand Rapids, Big Falls, Waskish, Roseau, Tower, Babbit, Ely, and Isabella reported snowfall. The 2.5 inches measure at Big Falls was a statewide record for the date. Elsewhere, many climate observers reported 1 to 2 inches of cold rain.
Outlook:Warming up to near normal temperatures over the weekend and into Memorial Day. A chance for showers in the north early on Saturday. By late Monday there will be a chance for rain in far southern counties. Much warmer temperatures for Tuesday through Friday of next week with readings well above normal. Another chance for showers by late Wednesday and into Thursday.

Very Windy and Dry Month of May So Far:Through the first two weeks of May, the climate signature in Minnesota is cool, dry, and very windy. Despite the warm-up this week, average temperatures for the month so far range from 2°F to 5°F below normal, with multiple frosts having occurred in many areas. Frosts were reported as recently as May 12th (Tue) in some southern counties, and as recently as May 14th in some northern counties. Forecasts for over the weekend suggest a continuation of above normal temperatures (some 70s F and 80s F) through at least Monday before another cool-down to below normal values.

Rainfall has been significantly absent so far this month, with most places in the state reporting less than a tenth of an inch. Only a few places in northeastern and north-central Minnesota have reported rainfall between a quarter of an inch and half an inch. Rapidly moving thunderstorms brought some rain to portions of central and northern Minnesota Thursday afternoon (May 14). Several Red Flag Warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service so far this month, as strong winds and very low humidity levels have prevailed over much of the landscape. There have also been some blowing dust warnings in western Minnesota where visibility for driving has been greatly reduced. MPCA issued an Air Quality Alert for west-central and northwestern counties over May 14-15, due to blowing dust making the air unhealthy. Afternoon humidity levels on May 12 and May 14 this week were as low as 14 to 19 percent in many areas.

The month of May climatologically ranks often as the 4th or 5th windiest month of the year in Minnesota. But this year will be an exception as wind speeds have been consistently very high this month, with many gusts over 50 mph at several locations. The majority of climate stations have reported 8 to 10 days with wind gusts of 30 mph or greater through the first two weeks of the month. Moorhead in the Red River Valley has reported 12 such days. More strong winds are likely next week across the region as well.

Farmers have had many days in the field this week and over three-quarters of the corn acreage is planted, with oever 30 percent of the fields showing crop emergence. Over half of the soybeans have been planted with about 20 percent of the fields showing emergence.
Weekly Weather Potpourri:Soccer’s World Cup matches begin next month across North America with first round games scheduled for Canada, Mexico, and the USA. The BBC Weather Center has taken a careful look at what types of severe weather may disrupt these games during the course of the months long tournament. They especially have been concerned about Heat Waves, severe thunderstorms, and Air Quality Alerts (due wildfires). One precaution taken by FIFA to protect players from excessive heat is that there will be mandatory 3-minute cooling breaks during each half of a game. For a more complete perspective of the BBC analysis of weather risks you can go to their web site.

The Weather Underground web site features a good discussion about the potential impacts of an El Nino Episode on the 2026 Hurricane Season for both the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean (along with the Gulf of Mexico). The guidance for NOAA continues to suggest the formation of an El Nino during the summer of 2026. ENSO conditions historically boost the number of hurricanes in the Eastern Pacific Ocean but diminish the number in the Atlanctic Basin.

This week’s AGU-EOS Bulletin features a good article about how global climate extremes have already been frequent during the first half of this year and may emerge in even more headlines as El Nino develops this summer. Among features highlighted are that Arctic sea ice reached an all-time winter season low, and more than 150 million acres have already been burned in wildfires.
MPR listener question:We have already watered our garden several times this month, using a sprinkler early in the morning. Can you tell us what has been the driest month of May in state history?
Answer:Sure, the only two Mays when the statewide average rainfall was less than one inch were in 1900 and 1976. In 1900 the statewide average rainfall was just 0.80 inches, and in 1976 it was just 0.84 inches. In 1976 this was a precursor to the 2nd worst drought in state history, which materialized as the summer wore on with bigger and bigger rainfall deficits.

Dries Mays for selected Minnesota cities are:
MSP 0.21 inches in 1934
Rochester 0.40 inches in 1934
Morris 0.20 inches in 1928
Crookston 0.24 inches in 1917
Duluth 0.15 inches in 1976
Milan 0.12 inches in 1976
International Falls 0.07 inches in 1917
St Cloud 0.20 inches in 1900
New Ulm 0.24 inches in 1900
Twin Cities Almanac for May 15th:The average MSP high temperature for this date is 69 degrees F (plus or minus 12 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is.50 degrees F (plus or minus 8 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for May 15th:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 94 degrees F in 2001; lowest daily maximum temperature of 39 degrees F in 1907; lowest daily minimum temperature of 31 degrees F in 1980; highest daily minimum temperature of 70 degrees F in 2001, and record precipitation of 1.95 inches in 1911. Record snowfall for this date is 0.8 inches in 1907.

Average dew point for May 15th is 41°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 70°F in 1998 and the minimum dew point on this date is 20 degrees F in 2011.
All-time statewide records for May 15tht:The state record high temperature for this date is.103 degrees F at Winnebago (Faribault County) and at Sherburn (Martin County) in 2013. The state record low temperature for this date is 13 degrees F at Embarrass (St Louis County) in 2004. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 4.20 inches at New London (Kandiyohi County) in 1911. A record 8.0 inches of snow fell at Mountain Iron (St Louis County) on this date in 1907.
Past Weather:A rare May snowstorm passed across Minnesota on May 15 of 1907. The storm brought 2 to 4 inches of snowfall to many southern and central areas of the state. In the north it delivered 4 to 8 inches of snow, and some parts of St Louis County reported over 9 inches. Daily temperatures rebounded into the 60s and 70s F the day after the snowstorm.

The morning of May 15 in 2004 was a chilly one across much of central and northern Minnesota. Many climate stations reported morning low temperatures in the 20s F.  Both Tower and Embarrass reported lows in the teens F. The daily high temperature in Cook (St Louis County) only reached 39°F.

May 15 of 2013 brought record-setting high maximum temperatures to many parts of southern and western Minnesota. Temperatures reached 100°F or higher in 8 southern counties, and reached the 90s F in over 50 other counties.
Outlook:Warm and breezy over the weekend and into Monday with chances for showers and thunderstorms, especially on Sunday and Monday. Cooler by Tuesday with direr conditions prevailing through much of next week.

Cold and Dry Start to May:The month of May has started out colder than normal. Most climate stations report an average monthly temperature through the first 8 days that is 6°F to 9°F cooler than normal. Many areas of the state have seen multiple frosty nights. In fact, a a few northern counties have reported low temperatures from 15°F to 19°F. Frosts have occurred as far south as Caledonia and Albert Lea. Fortunately after this coming Monday (May 11) temperatures are expected to warm closer to normal and even above normal values by the middle of next week.

Most of the state has reported no rainfall so far this month. Some northern areas have received between 0.10 inches and 0.30 inches from brief showers. Forecasts suggested that there will be little rainfall until at least the second half of the month, so that some remaining areas of Moderate Drought in the state may expand over the coming couple of weeks.

Crop planting progress this month has been very good, with over half of the corn planted and over a third of the soybean crop planted. First cutting of alfalfa hay may be delayed until later in the month with these cooler temperatures.
Weekly Weather Potpourri:The Weather Underground web site this week features an update on ENSO forecasts for the coming summer. It appears more and more likely that an ENSO episode will be in play by late summer, and further, there is a 50-50 chance that a “Super ENSO episode” may develop with ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean warming more than 2.0°C. Such a development may rival of the Super ENSO episodes of 1998 and 2016. These episodes can have significant impacts on Minnesota weather conditions for the coming November 2026 through March of 2027 period.

A recent research study published in Nature Communications documents enormous increases in summer surface melting of portions of the Greenland ice sheet. Extreme episodes of warm summer temperatures and rapid ice melting during the summer have become more frequent in occurrence. Seven of the ten most extreme events have occurred since 2000. Future projects based on continuing increases in greenhouse gases suggest that extreme meltwater discharge from the ice sheet could increase by over 300 percent by the year 2100.
MPR listener question:In how many years has the temperature reached 100°F during the month of May in Minnesota?
Answer:In Minnesota climate history there have been just 11 months of May when the daily maximum temperature reached 100°F or higher. In chronological order those years were: 1914, 1925, 1934, 1939, 1959, 1964,1967, 1998, 2011, 2013 and most recently 2018. In May of 1934, there were 10 days when the temperature reached 100°F or higher, including May 31st when it reached 112°F at Maple Plain, the all-time high temperature for the month of May.
Twin Cities Almanac for May 8th:The average MSP high temperature for this date is 66 degrees F (plus or minus 12 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is 47 degrees F (plus or minus 8 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for May 8th:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 90 degrees F in 1874; lowest daily maximum temperature of 41 degrees F in 1924; lowest daily minimum temperature of 28 degrees F in 1960; highest daily minimum temperature of 67 degrees F in 1896, and record precipitation of 1.73 inches in 1872. Record snowfall for this date is 0.5 inches in 1923.

Average dew point for May 8th is 39°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 67°F in 1965 and the minimum dew point on this date is 6 degrees F in 1947.
All-time statewide records for May 8tht:The state record high temperature for this date is.102 degrees F at Beardsley (Big Stone County) in 1934. The state record low temperature for this date is 10 degrees F at Pine River (Crow Wing County) in 1907. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 4.85 inches at Santiago (Sherburne County) in 2014. A record 12.0 inches of snow fell at Windom (Cottonwood County) on this date in 1938.
Past Weather:Very cold temperatures dominated the state on the morning of May 8 in 1907. Temperatures were in the 20s F even along the Iowa border. Five northern counties reported temperatures in the teens. The daily high temperature at Montevideo only reached 35°F with snow flurries.

Over 25 Minnesota climate stations reported record high daily maximum temperatures on May 8 of 1934. Most of these record high temperatures were in the 90s F. In four western counties the afternoon high temperature reached 100°F or greater. It was the first of 10 days that reached 100°F or higher during May of 1934.

One of the largest May snowfalls of the 1930s in Minnesota occurred on May 8 of 1938, Many communities across southern and western Minnesota reported 3 to 6 inches of snowfall, with high winds and cold temperatures. Windom reported a record snowfall of 12 inches falling on recently planted small grain crops.
Outlook:Cooler than normal temperatures over the weekend and into Monday, with chances for morning frosts in many areas of rural Minnesota. There will be Increasing clouds on Monday with a chance for showers later in the day. Showers on Tuesday with warmer temperatures, then warming temperatures will continue for the remainder of next week. There will be increasing chances for showers later on Wednesday and into Thursday.

Climate summary for April of 2026:

What a variable month in terms of weather.  Approximately one third of the days brought cooler than normal temperatures with multiple freezes and frosts, one third of the days brought warmer than normal temperatures, with some record-setting highs, and one third of the days brought near normal temperatures.  In the southern half of the state, most climate stations reported a mean monthly temperature that was 1 to 3 degrees F warmer than normal.  In the northern half of the state, where snow cover persisted long, most climate stations reported a mean monthly temperature that was 1 to 3 degrees F cooler than normal.  Extremes for the month ranged from 93°F at Madison (Lac Qui Parle County) on the 22nd to -8°F at Ada (Norman County) on the 7th.  At least 22 northern climate stations reported a subzero minimum temperature during the month, while 9 western Minnesota climate stations reported a day with 90°F or higher.  The warm spells of April 16-17 and April 22-23 brought over 45 record high daily maximum temperatures to the state climate station network, mostly in southern and western Minnesota.  Conversely, over April 7-8, there were 7 new record low minimum temperatures reported from the state climate network.

Precipitation for the month was above normal for most locations in the state, especially in eastern counties where many climate observers reported twice normal precipitation.  This was the 6th consecutive wetter than normal month of April based on statewide average precipitation.  Northeast counties reported their 4th wettest April in history, while southeastern counties reported their 13th wettest April in history.  Most climate observers reported 3 to 5 inches of precipitation, and at least 70 climate stations reported between 5 and 7 inches of precipitation.  The area of the Minnesota landscape reported by the U.S. Drought Monitor to be in at least Moderate Drought dropped from 34 percent at the beginning of April to just 9 percent by the end of the month. 

April snowfall ranged from 5 inches to 18 inches across most of the northern half of Minnesota.  Kelliher and Mahnomen reported over 20 inches. Many areas in the southern half of Minnesota reported just an inch or less of April snowfall.

Severe weather episodes brought large hail, high winds, and tornadoes on April 13 and April 17, the Monday and Friday of Severe Weather Awareness Week.  Comprehensive reports of these severe weather episodes are available at the Minnesota State Climatology Office web site.

Speaking of high winds, April was a very windy month.  Many climate stations reported between 15 and 18 days with wind gusts of 30 mph or greater.  Both Rochester and the Twin Cities reported 20 such days.

There were multiple mornings with fog throughout Minnesota, especially in northern areas, and in contrast, there were numerous days when the relative humidity was extremely low (10-19 percent) with brisk winds and the National Weather Service had to issue Red Flag Warnings for fire danger. 

Though farmers made some progress in spring planting during April, by month’s end there was still a long ways to go in terms of the acreage that remained to be planted for most major crops. So in this context the first two weeks of May will be extremely busy for farmers.

Weekly Weather Potpourri:

Congratulations to Paul Huttner, Chief Meteorologist at Minnesota Public Radio since 2007.  He retired on April 30th, leaving an outstanding legacy as a forecaster, and also as an educator on climate change.  His Climate Cast series of podcasts are still available on the MPR web site for those still interested in learning more about climate change.  Thanks for your service Paul and best wishes for a pleasant retirement.

Congratulations as well to Belinda Jensen, retiring Chief Meteorologist at KARE-11 television in Minneapolis.  She has ended a 33-year career there and left her mark on so many Minnesotans as an educator about both meteorology and gardening.  Very best wishes to her.  The KARE-11 web site features a good retrospective of her career.

There is a fascinating article on the Weather Underground web site this week about how the smell or sent of rain varies with the seasons.  The rain itself does not smell, but the moistening of the vegetation and soils produces different chemical reactions depending on the season.  A lot of this has to do with the aerosols released from plant oils or soil bacteria when they are moistened by rain.  What is not surprising is that winter rains produce the most bland smells, as soils are typically cold or frozen and vegetation is dormant. 

MPR listener question:

When was the last measurable snowfall during the month of May in the Twin Cities?

Answer:

Although some recent months of May have brought a Trace of snow to the Twin Cities, the last measurable amount of snow was May 3 of 2013 when 0.5 inches was measured.  (BTW on that date Dodge Center in SE MN was getting over 15 inches of snow).  Before that year, the Twin Cities had reported measurable snowfall in May for 1991 (0.3 inches) and 1989 (0.1 inches).  The largest amount of May snowfall in the Twin Cities climate record is 3.0 inches which occurred in 1892, 1935, and 1946.

Twin Cities Almanac for May 1st:

The average MSP high temperature for this date is 64 degrees F (plus or minus 13 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is 44 degrees F (plus or minus 9 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for May 1st:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 91 degrees F in 1959; lowest daily maximum temperature of 33 degrees F in 1909; lowest daily minimum temperature of 24 degrees F in 1909; highest daily minimum temperature of 64 degrees F in 1934, and record precipitation of 1.26 inches in 1983.  Record snowfall for this date is 0.4 inches in 1887.

Average dew point for May 1st is 36°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 66°F in 2001 and the minimum dew point on this date is 8 degrees F in 1958.

      All-time statewide records for May 1st:
 

The state record high temperature for this date is.100 degrees F at Beardsley (Big Stone County) in 1959. The state record low temperature for this date is 5 degrees F at Cook (St Louis County) in 1966. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 3.83 inches at Winona (Winona County) in 1936. A record 8.0 inches of snow fell at Hinckley (Pine County) on this date in 1909. 

Past Weather:

A very late season winter storm moved across Minnesota over April 30 and May 1 in 1909.  It brought snow to almost all parts of the state.  Many areas reported from 3 to 8 inches of snowfall.  Hinckley and Floodwood reported over a foot of snowfall blanketed the landscape in white to start the month of May.

Perhaps the warmest May 1st in state history was in 1959.  Many climate stations reported record-setting afternoon high temperatures, mostly in the 80s and 90s F.  It was 90°F as far north as Itasca State Park.  Beardsley in Big Stone County reported 100°F. 

Much of Minnesota reported record-setting cold minimum temperatures on the morning of May 1 in 1966.  Many areas of the state saw morning temperatures in the teens, while portions of northeastern Minnesota where there was still snow on the ground reported temperatures in the single digits.

Outlook:

The weekend will start out cool, with morning lows in the 30s F and areas of frost around the state.  Somewhat warmer temperatures for Sunday and Monday, but with chances for rain in northern area.  Chances for rains in the south by Tuesday, with temperatures much of the week remaining cooler than normal and continued chances for frost Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights.

More Severe Weather and Red Flag Warnings:More severe weather and Red Flag Warnings dominated the Minnesota weather headlines since last Friday. Friday, April 17th brought multiple tornadoes and several reports of large hail to southeastern Minnesota counties. Most of the tornadoes were rated EF-0 (65-85 mph winds) or EF-1 (86-110 mph winds), though two tornadoes, both near the Rochester area, were rated EF-2 (111-135 mph winds). These EF-2 tornadoes caused damage to homes and some farm buildings. There were also lots of reports of hail from 1 inch to 2 inches in diameter over the southeastern counties. The Minnesota State Climatology Office web site provides a summary description of the tornadoes and damage from these storms.

The La Crosse, WI National Weather Service web site offers a good online graphical summary of these storms as well.

For Monday through Wednesday of this week much of the state saw Red Flag Warnings each day from the National Weather Service. These warnings were provoked by windy conditions and very low relative humidity values which inflated the risk for wildfires. Many areas of the state reported afternoon relative humidity values between 10 percent and 19 percent. The Minnesota Interagency Command System had 19 wildfires reported across the state on Tuesday as fire danger continues to rise. On Wednesday (Earth Day), the dry air, along with prevailing south winds and sunny skies contributed to record high daily temperatures being reported from many parts of the state. Over 25 long term climate stations reported setting new record high maximum daily temperatures, with very low relative humidity readings. Some of these were:
93°F at Madison (Lac Qui Parle County)
92°F at Artichoke Lake (Big Stone County) and Wheaton (Traverse County)
91°F at Lamberton (Redwood County)
90°F at Redwood Falls, Alexandria, and Marshall
87°F at St Cloud
81°F at International Falls

Forecasts indicate that temperatures will be closer to normal for the balance of the month.

Winds continue to be strong this April with a large number of days bringing 30 mph or greater wind gusts. So far Rochester reports 17 such days, MSP 16 days, and St Cloud and Duluth 15 days.
Weekly Weather Potpourri:The Weather Underground web site reports this week on a study from Climate Central about warming temperatures across the USA since 1970. The state showing the fastest warming is Alaska, where the mean annual temperature has increased by 4.4°F since 1970. Minnesota has warmed by about 2.7°F. Other comparisons can be found in the report at the Climate Central web site.

A recent report in the journal Nature highlights the subsidence of many global river deltas, where millions of people live.  Using satellite-based elevation data to track subsidence rates, the researchers examined 40 major river deltas.  For some major global river deltas, subsidence loos of elevation exceeds the rate of nearby sea level rise and poses a real threat to continued use of the delta lands for farming, manufacturing, and other human endeavors.  The study concludes that strategies should be developed to slow subsidence rates in some areas.

MPR listener question:So much of the climate change news is depressing. I was wondering, from your perspective, how can people think about climate change in a way that feels more grounded and less overwhelming in everyday life?
Answer:I have two suggestions to help cope with the complexities and trauma associated with climate change news. One, get connected to an organization that is doing something about it in many positive ways. Such an organization is the Minnesota Climate Adaption Partnership MCAP) which provides science-based answers and solutions that give us all hope for dealing with our changing climate. Some of their recent work includes the release of Climate and Weather Ready Toolkits and Guidelines for Homeowners, materials designed to help Minnesota homeowners understand and prepare for local weather and climate risks. They address five major threats facing the state — flooding, wildfire, extreme heat, wind and hail, and snow and ice — and were developed in collaboration with the design firm HGA. They are definitely worth checking out. MCAP also presents annual Climate Adaptation Awards which recognize exceptional achievements in climate resilience. The stories and accomplishments of the individuals and organizations that receive these awards are truly inspiring and give hope to us all that we have the ability to successfully adapt and mitigate climate change. You can find much more detail at the MCAP web site.

A second suggestion is to go to the Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) website and listen to archived sessions of Paul Huttner’s Climate Cast, which is a series of information conversations about climate change causes, symptoms, and cures with experts from a variety of professions. Climate Cast will greatly expand your knowledge and understanding of climate change as well as give you more hope for the future. BTW, congratulations to Paul Huttner and his remarkably productive and informative career as Chief Meteorologist at MPR He retires on the last day this month.
Twin Cities Almanac for April 24th:The average MSP high temperature for this date is 61 degrees F (plus or minus 11 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is 41 degrees F (plus or minus 9 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for April 24th:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 84 degrees F in 1962; lowest daily maximum temperature of 36 degrees F in 1887; lowest daily minimum temperature of 24 degrees F in 1875; highest daily minimum temperature of 62 degrees F in 1915, and record precipitation of 1.43 inches in 1908. Record snowfall for this date is 0.4 inches in 1887.

Average dew point for April 24th is 34°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 66°F in 1948 and the minimum dew point on this date is 8 degrees F in 2018.
All-time statewide records for April 24th:The state record high temperature for this date is 92 degrees F at Madison (Lac Qui Parle County) in 1962 and at several southern and western Minnesota locations in 2009. The state record low temperature for this date is 7 degrees F at Seagull Lake (Cook County) in 2023. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 5.44 inches at Winona Dam (Winona County) in 1990. A record 15.0 inches of snow fell at Fosston (Polk County) on this date in 1937.
Past Weather:On April 24 of 1909 many citizens of northern Minnesota awoke to record-setting cold temperatures. Morning lows ranged from the single digits to the teens F. Ice was still present on many northern lakes. The afternoon high temperature at Bagley remained below freezing and just reached 30°F.

A late season winter storm brought heavy snowfall to portions of the Iron Range and the north shore of Lake Superior over April 23-24 of 1968. Many areas reported a foot for more of snow. It was the last significant snowfall of the spring that year.

A very warm day prevailed across Minnesota on April 24 of 2009. About half of the state landscape saw afternoon temperatures reach the 80s F, with observers in 11 counties reporting high temperatures of 90°F or higher. Up in Cook County along the north shore of Lake Superior where snow cover remained, the daytime high temperatures remained in the 40s F.
Outlook:Cooler over the weekend, as temperatures fall back closer to normal, There will be slight chances for rain on Saturday and increasing chances by Sunday night. More widespread rain is likely Monday and Tuesday, then drier for the rest of the week as temperatures track a cooler than norma the last few days of April and beginning of May.

Rollercoaster Temperature Pattern in April:For the first 11 days of April, the average temperatures around the state were generally 4 to 8 degrees F cooler than normal, with many agricultural areas of the state reporting multiple frosts, even some single digit morning low temperatures. But since April 11th, temperatures have averaged 4 to 14 degrees F warmer than normal, with some areas reporting afternoon high temperatures in the 80s F on both the 12th and the 16th. Many climate observers have reported measurable rain on 9 or 10 days this month, as well as wind gusts of 30 mph or greater on 10 or 11 days.

April 13th brought severe weather to portions of southern Minnesota, with tornado reports from Blue Earth, Faribault, and Freeborn Counties. Fortunately, little damage was reported. In addition, 17 southern Minnesota counties reported large hail, ranging in diameter from 1 inch to 3.5 inches. There were reports of car damage and even some damage to buildings due to the hail. It is an interesting coincidence that the first tornadoes of the year, and first widespread hail reports would occur during Severe Weather Awareness Week (April 13-17). A comprehensive summary of the severe weather from April 13th can be found at the Minnesota State Climatology Office web site.

Another wild swing in weather this week can be seen in the dew point temperatures, which is a measure of the water vapor content of the air. Earlier in the week, prior to the severe weather, climate stations reported the first dew points of the year in the 60s F with high values of relative humidity (65 to 85 percent). Three days later, on April 16th, many parts of western Minnesota were under a Red Flag Warning with dew points in the upper 20s F to low 30s F, and relative humidity values only ranging from 10 to 19 percent, exceptionally dry air.
2026 Agricultural Season Getting Underway:Agricultural soils have thawed and drained in most places and farmers are starting to work in coarse textured soils and medium textured soils. In fact, it is estimated that some small grains (mostly oats and spring wheat) have already been planted, while corn planting is just getting underway this week. Soils temperatures at a 4-inch depth are averaging in the upper 40s F to low 50s F around most of the state. Planting will begin at full throttle around the state the week of April 20th. Timely planting is so critical for many producers that they will often work 16 to 20-hour days to take full advantage of good spells of weather. This in part explains why you see so many headlights moving along farm fields at night during the spring.

Over most of the state, rains earlier this month have helped to restore topsoil moisture conditions for planting crops. Some Moderate Drought remains in north-central and southwestern Minnesota. Outlooks for above normal rainfall over the last 10 days of the month should brighten the outlook for good crop germination.
Weekly Weather Potpourri:For those who may be interested, I will be doing a special program with Cathy Wurzer, host of Minnesota Public Radio’s Morning Edition Program, on April 29th from noon to 1pm at the Landmark Center in downtown St Paul. We will talk about our experiences from doing Morning Edition for the last 26 years, as well as doing the State Fair Weather Quiz, sharing stories, weather trivia, listener questions, as well as a few humorous gaffes. The program is free, but seating is limited, so you must register here. Registration is limited to two tickets.

I will be doing another upcoming weather related presentation that may be of interest on April 30, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Mahtomedi Community Education Center, 1520 Mahtomedi Ave. This one is called “The Art and Science of Cloud Forms & Cloud Appreciation.” We will examine the history of cloud classification, cloud forms and what they tell us about the weather, and cloud art captured in photos from members of the Cloud Appreciation Society. You must register to attend at the Mahtomedi Community Education web site.

As online sources of weather information have become more prolific, the art of headline writing has become more and more oriented to capturing browser’s attention by using stronger or more threatening language about the weather. This is designed to capture the web browser’s attention and get more hits. The UK Meteorological Office has recently undertaken a dissection of weather headlines to investigate how they often do not depict the “official weather forecast” which is usually more balanced or tempered in its jargon and careful not to express complete certainty in what will happen. This week the UK Met Office blog offers some examples of this.
MPR listener question:It wasn’t that many years ago that a new statewide record was set for May snowfall in Minnesota. Can you please remind us where and when it was?
Answer:Yes, the memorable date was May 2 of 2013, when Dodge Center (Dodge County) in southeastern Minnesota reported an all-time record daily snowfall for May of 15.4 inches. Actually, I believe that the National Weather Service was predicting record snowfalls that day, but not quite that much. Dodge Center ended up with 17.2 inches of May snowfall that year, not quite up to the 17.8 inches of May snowfall reported on the Iron Range at Virginia, MN in May of 1954.
Twin Cities Almanac for April 17th:The average MSP high temperature for this date is 57 degrees F (plus or minus 12 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is 38 degrees F (plus or minus 8 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for April 17th:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 85 degrees F in 1985; lowest daily maximum temperature of 33 degrees F in 1953; lowest daily minimum temperature of 10 degrees F in 1875; highest daily minimum temperature of 61 degrees F in 1976, and record precipitation of 1.44 inches in 1975. Record snowfall for this date is 2.7 inches in 1939.

Average dew point for April 17th is 32°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 62°F in 1977 and the minimum dew point on this date is 4 degrees F in 1989.
All-time statewide records for April 17th:The state record high temperature for this date is 93 degrees F at Stillwater (Washington County) in 2002. The state record low temperature for this date is -5 degrees F at Gunflint Lake (Cook County) in 1983. The statewide record for precipitation on this date is 3.00 inches at Lambert (Red Lake County) in 1896. A record 15.0 inches of snow fell at Wild River State Park (Chisago County) on this date in 2014.
Past Weather:With 3 to 10 inches of snow cover still on the ground, many Minnesota climate stations reported record-setting cold minimum temperatures on the morning of April 17 in 1983. Many areas reported morning lows in the teens, while far northern communities saw single digit temperatures. Portions of Cook, Lake, and St Louis County reported subzero low temperatures. The daytime high temperature at Duluth only reached 27°F.

On perhaps the warmest April 17th in state history, over 60 climate stations set high maximum temperature records on this date in 2002. Over 40 counties reported afternoon temperatures of 80°F or greater. Farmers around the state were quite busy planting crops.

A late season winter storm brought record-setting snowfall amounts to many parts of central Minnesota over April 16-17 of 2014. Most observers reports from 8 to 16 inches of snowfall, but North Branch and Princeton reported over 20 inches of snow. Several schools in east-central Minnesota closed for both April 16th and 17th. There were numerous traffic accidents as well. That April proved to be one of the snowiest in history for parts of the state.
Outlook:Breezy and much cooler over the weekend, with below normal temperatures prevailing. There will be more widespread freezing overnight temperatures too. Then, temperatures will rebound to above normal levels starting on Monday when it will also be quite breezy. For most of next week temperatures will be above normal and not cooling off until next weekend. There will be chances for more rain across the state late on Wednesday and into Thursday.