We’ve certainly had our share of hot days this season so far, but today is perhaps feeling the hottest as near record temperatures combined with extreme humidity are creating heat indices in the 100s.  An Excessive Heat Warning has been posted for much of the local area because of this unhealthy or even potentially life threatening situation as heat exhaustion or other heat related illnesses may occur if you don’t take precautions and stay hydrated.  Staying in air conditioning and keeping pets and children out of the heat is important as well.  A month ago we experienced the hottest day in more than 20 years, and while we reached triple digits in much of the area, today’s scenario has the potential to be more of a problem for us as humidity is much more prevalent in the atmosphere, giving us slightly higher heat indices.  It’s going to feel like it’s 110 at times today and this evening.  The forecast high for Rochester today is 99° and the record is 97° set in 1911, so it’s very possible that this record as well as some other local records will be broken.  A cold front will push through the area tonight, bringing an end to this heat wave, but may also trigger some evening thunderstorms.  Behind the front, we’ll enjoy lower humidity levels in the air and more seasonable highs in the 80s for the weekend.

An Excessive Heat Warning remains in effect until this evening for much of the area including Rochester, La Crosse, and Decorah. Heat indices will top out around 110 to 115 today.

Posted under heat

Talk about a shock to the system!  We’ve reached 90° three times in the past four days and have broken two record highs here in Rochester and now today it looks like we’ll be reaching the climax of this heat wave by flirting with 100° temperatures!  Not only is this incredibly hot for our region, but it is extemely rare, especially in Rochester where the last time the official high temperature was in triple digits, Ronald Reagan was president and we were in the midst of a scorching drought that lasted most of the summer.  The date was July 31, 1988 and Rochester registered a high temperature of 100° at the airport.  It hasn’t happened since then, but we came close once in 1995 when we topped out at 99°.  Well, we’re not in a drought now, but we do have some factors that do favor triple digit heat.  A very warm air mass is firmly planted in the Midwest feeding this heat into the Upper Mississippi Valley.  Gusty south winds today will work to mix down some of this heat from the middle layers of the atmosphere while a day filled with bright sunshine will also help the cause.  A cold front from the west will bring an end to this heat wave tomorrow and will also possibly spark some scattered thunderstorms later in the day, so if you’re hoping to give the air conditioner a break, there is some good news.  In the menatime, a Heat Advisory is in effect for much of the local area through this afternoon until 8pm as heat indices will be around 105 or more.  Be sure to stay well hydrated and stay out of the sun during the peak heating of the day.  Keep an eye on pets and try to keep them indoors as much as possible.

Reaching 100° doesn't happen very often in our area.

Posted under heat

It seems as though our current heat wave is reaching a “fever pitch” today as heat indices are expected to be as hot as anything we’ve dealt with this year.  In fact as you might have already heard, the National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the entire viewing area until 7:00 this evening with heat indices expected to be in a 100 to 110 range through the afternoon across the region.  Temperatures themselves will top out around 90° with dew points (the dreaded humidity factor) hovering around 80° making for an oppressive and inhospitable environment outside.  Be sure to take it easy in the heat and drink plenty of liquids.  Also make sure to keep the pets well hydrated and in the shade, if not in air conditioning this afternoon.  While temperatures in Rochester this afternoon will likely fall a few degrees shy of the record of 95° set in 1947, we’ll be close to the record for warm minimum temperatures tonight with overnight readings of 71° expected while the current record for tonight is 72° set in 1988.  We already have one such record under our belt this week as a record overnight temperature on Sunday was set with a low of 72° that day.  The good news is after today, things should be a bit cooler for a couple of days and then by Sunday, we’ll be enjoying drier, less humid air while high temperatures will be in the upper 70s.

Posted under heat

5:00 p.m. update: Winds of 50-60mph have been reported around Charles City and Oelwein, taking some large branches down. There’s a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Fayette County until 5:30 p.m..

4:15 p.m. update: <Drumming fingers against table waiting for at least a drop of rain in Rochester.> The line has weakened greatly, but individual cells have popped up in southeastern Minnesota. There’s a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Wabasha County until 5 p.m.. Other cells have popped up in Fillmore County (not severe). The line continues it’s jaunt eastward in north Iowa…will affect the Decorah area in the next hour or so.

3:15 p.m. update: Storms are rolling through the Mason City area…roughly stretching right along I-35 from Albert Lea to south of Mason City. Gusty winds are all that’s been reported.

2:15 p.m. update: No big reports coming in from this line. The northern extent of it has shown some sign of weakening…Owatonna and Albert Lea can expect to see it a little after 2:30 p.m. The Mason City area can expect it around 3 p.m..once again…high winds and small hail will be possible with it. There aren’t any warnings in effect at this time, but we still have the Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 6 p.m..

1:30 p.m. update: A line of storms are pushing in from the west…currently affecting Faribault, Kossuth counties. Many of the reports have been for high winds and small hail. We’ve got our eye on it as it heads east…roughly at about 35 mph.

Noon update: Aside from the heat, we have some hefty storms headed in from the west. There’s a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect until 6 p.m. for nearly the entire area.

Heat Advisory Info:

Step outside today and you automatically start to sweat. We’re all lemons in a big juicer today (and yesterday, too).

A Heat Advisory is in effect for the entire area through the evening hours.

Temperatures will approach the mid 90s today – combine that with dew points in the 60s and 70s, and heat indicies will climb to the 100° to 105° mark.  Sitting in the shade may help, but it’ll (obviously) feel even hotter in the sun.

Wonder how they find the heat index – aka what it “feels like” outside? You can take a peek at the image to the left, or for even MORE fun, here’s a fun tool from the National Weather Serivce.  

A reminder that heat cramps, sunstroke, and heat stroke can come on quickly if you overexert yourself in such weather. Heat stroke and sunstroke can be life threatening.

Some helpful tips: limit time outdoors, or stay in the shade as much as possible if you have to be outdoors. Drink lots of cool liquids – especially water. Check on the elderly, kids, and pets to make sure they are doing OK. And if you have to be outdoors today – sunscreen is a necessity. It’ll only take 15 minutes or so for you to burn.

Posted under KTTC