Minneapolis, Minnesota – The pavement is already warming under bright July sunshine, and the Twin Cities are heading into another dangerous day of extreme heat. Even before the hottest part of the afternoon arrives, warm air is offering little relief, setting the stage for prolonged heat stress across the metro.
According to the National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen, an Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect until 9 p.m. Tuesday for Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Scott, Carver, Washington and Anoka counties. Afternoon heat index values may reach 99 to 100 degrees, while nighttime temperatures remain in the mid-70s, limiting overnight cooling and increasing cumulative health risks.
High temperatures are expected to climb into the mid-90s through midweek. Monday reaches 95 degrees, followed by 96 degrees Tuesday and Wednesday, with heat index values remaining close to 100 degrees during the hottest part of each afternoon.
Travelers along Interstates 35W, 35E, 94 and 394, as well as Highway 100 and Interstate 494, should prepare for sweltering conditions. Keep extra water in your vehicle, avoid leaving children or pets inside parked cars, and schedule outdoor work during the early morning whenever possible. Vehicle interiors can become life-threatening within minutes.
The National Weather Service notes that the greatest impacts will occur across the urban core of Minneapolis and St. Paul, where buildings and pavement hold heat well into the evening. Heat-related illnesses become more likely when temperatures remain elevated around the clock.
Elsewhere across the Upper Midwest, the same hot air mass continues to dominate while severe thunderstorm activity remains focused farther south and west. No organized severe weather is expected locally through midweek, but residents should continue monitoring updates as the pattern evolves.
Relief remains limited until later in the week, when temperatures ease slightly into the lower 90s. Even then, conditions will remain well above average for mid-July.
Five-Day Forecast for Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Monday: Sunny and hot. High 95°F. Heat index near 98°F.
- Tuesday: Sunny and hot. High 96°F. Heat index near 99°F.
- Wednesday: Sunny and hot. High 96°F.
- Thursday: Sunny and hot. High 95°F.
- Friday: Mostly sunny and hot. High 93°F.
