Instant Summer!

Weather Headlines

* Record heat grips the southern third of Minnesota Tuesday, 97 in the Twin Cities, 94 in Rochester, 100 degrees reported at Granite Falls, nearly 30 degrees warmer than average.

* Grand Marais: Tuesday afternoon temperatures hold in the mid 30s, nearly a 70 degree temperature contrast across the state!

* Wednesday: nearly as hot, low to mid 90s south, near 90 central, 70s and 80s up north.

* T-storms reach the Red River Valley late Wednesday, spreading across the rest of Minnesota Thursday morning.

* Weak bubble of high pressure keeps most of the rain/storms over Iowa and Nebraska Friday, Saturday and Sunday.... risk of showers, T-storms increases on Memorial Day (few hours of rain possible).

* Weekend temperatures much closer to average for late May, 60s north, 70s south.

For a detailed list of most Minnesota towns, yesterday's highs, and comprehensive weather information for the past 5 days (including highs/lows/precipitation) click here.


Paul's Outlook

Wednesday: Faded sunshine, windy & hot. Winds: SW 15-35. High: 94

Wednesday night: Clouds increase, growing risk of a T-storm, turning cooler. Low: 62

Thursday: Still unsettled, a few scattered showers and T-storms possible. Getting sunnier by afternoon. High: 68

Friday: Plenty of sunshine, closer to average for late May. High: 72

Saturday: Partly cloudy and pleasant. High: 73

Sunday: Sun gives way to increasing clouds, a few PM showers (best chance south/west of the metro area). High: 71

Memorial Day: More clouds, much better chance of showers, a few T-storms. High: near 70

(Here is more information from the local NWS office on yesterday's record heat).

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
744 PM CDT TUE MAY 19 2009

...VERY WARM TEMPERATURES FOR MID-MAY ACROSS THE AREA ON TUESDAY
AFTERNOON...

A WARM FRONT LIFTED NORTH ACROSS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA ON TUESDAY
AFTERNOON STEERING IN WINDY...DRY...AND VERY WARM TEMPERATURES.
RECORD HIGHS WERE REACHED IN A FEW COMMUNITIES...INCLUDING THE
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

.WARMEST HIGH TEMPERATURES FROM THE LOCAL AREA...

STATION                  TUESDAY HIGH TEMP
------------------------------------------
GRANITE FALLS                    100
MADISON                           99
MONTEVIDEO                        99
OWATONNA                          99
REDWOOD FALLS                     99
CANBY                             98
OLIVIA                            98
BENSON                            97
EDEN PRAIRIE                      97
FARIBAULT                         97
MANKATO                           97
MINNEAPOLIS                       97
WILLMAR                           97



.RECORD HIGHS FOR MAY 19TH...

NOTE THAT PERIODS OF RECORD MAY VARY.

STATION      TUESDAY HIGH TEMP     OLD RECORD HIGH TEMP   YEAR
--------------------------------------------------------------
MADISON              99                    93             1998
MANKATO              97                    94             1955
MINNEAPOLIS          97                    89             1977
                                                         1978
MONTEVIDEO           99                    97             1911



.NEAR RECORDS FOR MAY 19TH...

NOTE THAT PERIODS OF RECORD MAY VARY.

STATION      TUESDAY HIGH TEMP     OLD RECORD HIGH TEMP   YEAR
--------------------------------------------------------------
FARIBAULT            97                    102            1934
NEW ULM              95                    103            1934
REDWOOD FALLS        99                    104            1934

FOR THE ABOVE THREE SITES...THE TUESDAY HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS THE
SECOND WARMEST FOR MAY 19TH.