Brainerd roasted its way to a new hot temperature record Tuesday, June 16.
The Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport weather observatory hit 95 degrees just before 4 p.m. Tuesday, besting the previous high temperature for June 16, which was set at 91 degrees in 1995. A southerly breeze continued throughout the day, gusting as high as 33 mph. Relative humidity dropped from an early morning 71% to 30% by late afternoon. A heat index, which provides a real feel or a way to measure how the heat feels to a human body, combines air temperature with humidity. Tuesday's heat index hit a high of 94 degrees.
To set consecutive high temperature records, Brainerd will need to top 96 degrees Wednesday. The current high temperature record holder for June 17 was also posted during that hot stretch in 1995. Wednesday should continue the hot and breezy conditions with a high of 91 degrees predicted.
Todd, Morrison and Mille Lacs counties were in a hazardous weather outlook Tuesday with hot temperatures and a heat index in the 90s with a chance for thunderstorms late Wednesday through the weekend.
Hot, dry and windy weather are also leading to near critical fire weather conditions in west central, central and south central Minnesota Tuesday into Wednesday, the weather service reported. Conditions include warming into the 90s, perhaps close to 100 degrees in some places, with relative humidity below 30%. Those factors, along with southerly wind gusts of 20-30 mph, combine for ripe fire conditions and have officials urging people to consider state and local instructions for burning activities.
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After a hot start to the week, the National Weather Service in Duluth reported temperatures are expected to return to normal by week’s end with highs in the mid to upper 70s. In the Brainerd lakes area, Wednesday’s overnight low may drop to 68 degrees with thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2 a.m. Wednesday night. Showers and thunderstorms are likely Thursday with a chance of precipitation at 80%. Highs on Thursday are expected to bring relief from the high heat topping out about 83 degrees. By Friday, there should be continued respite from the heat with a high of 77 degrees beneath sunny skies. The forecast for the weekend and early next week calls for highs in the mid to upper 70s with a chance, however slight, each day Saturday through Tuesday, June 23, for showers and thunderstorms.
