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BRAINERD — The lakes area is in for a hot and humid week, with the possibility of some severe thunderstorms.
The week’s first storms were expected in the early hours of Monday morning, June 13, as a complex of thunderstorms developed across the Dakotas and moved into Minnesota, said Bryan Howell, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Duluth.
The thunderstorms were poised to hit Brainerd around sunrise Monday, Howell said, potentially bringing wind gusts over 60 mph and large hail. There could be some isolated showers and thunderstorms later throughout the day.
A chance of more storms exists Tuesday but could be thwarted by heat, as temperatures are projected to reach 91 degrees, accompanied by high humidity.
“We’re going to have plenty of fuel around for thunderstorms,” Howell said. “It’s just because it’s going to be so warm, temperatures aloft are going to be warm enough so that storms can’t develop. So we really don’t know. If it’s too warm, or if something — some sort of trigger mechanism — comes and gives us the lift for thunderstorms, then it could break through that cap and then we could have some potentially severe storms. But it’s looking like it’s going to be too warm for that to happen right now.”
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But a cold front expected to come through in the late afternoon or early evening could provide the lift Howell said is needed for thunderstorms.
“Storms are kind of like a machine,” he said. “Once they get going, they just kind of keep going, using all that energy that’s up in the atmosphere, but it has to get to a certain point high enough in the atmosphere for that to just start sustaining itself.”
Thunderstorms aside, heat exhaustion is another danger Howell said lakes area residents should be cognizant of and take precautions against as temperatures and humidity both rise.
“Stay hydrated, take it easy, find some shade if you’re out working,” he said. “Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can creep up pretty fast, especially when it’s hot and humid.”
Wednesday afternoon and evening also brings another chance for thunderstorms, as temperatures drop back to the high 70s.
Upcoming forecast
Monday, June 13: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Breezy, with southwest winds of 10-15 mph and gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between one-tenth and one-quarter of an inch, except for higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday night: A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Breezy, with east winds 10-15 mph and gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday, June 14: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 91. Breezy, with southeast winds 10-15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
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Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Breezy, with east winds 10-15 mph decreasing to 5-10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday, June 15: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 4 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. South winds 5-10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday night: A slight chance of thunderstorms before 7 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Southwest winds around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday, June 16: Sunny, with a high near 78. Breezy, with west winds around 15 mph and gusts as high as 30 mph.
Thursday night: Clear, with a low around 55. Breezy, with northwest winds 5-15 mph and gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday, June 17: Sunny, with a high near 83. Northwest winds 5-10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Southeast winds around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Saturday, June 18: Sunny, with a high near 88. Breezy, with south winds 10 to 15 mph and gusts as high as 25 mph.
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Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Breezy, with south winds 10-15 mph and gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday, June 19 (Father’s Day): Sunny and hot, with a high near 93. Breezy, with south winds 10-15 mph and gusts as high as 25 mph.
THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa.
