After non-stop lightning and then an appreciable cool down, the lakes area is about to swing back into summer.
During the electricity-laden thunderstorms late Wednesday night into Thursday, the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport reported .66 inches of rain. Those up to watch the lightning illuminate the clouds may have taken a serious second look at one cloud formation north of Washington Street, which appeared at first glance to look heart-stoppingly like a tornado-or at least a funnel cloud stretched close to the ground. But the non-rotating cloud slowly came unraveled as the imposter it was.
Thursday's highs barely made it into the 60s, not far from the record holder for the lowest daytime high in the books for a July 13. In 1993, that July 13 cool summer day topped out at 59 degrees. Friday saw a slight rebound with sunshine and a high of 75 degrees.
The normal high for this time of year is 82 degrees.
But this weekend should bring back the true summer heat that makes jumping into a lake a welcome relief. Highs on Saturday, July 15, should reach 85 degrees with scattered thunderstorms possible. Although the storms are not expected to be severe, the National Weather Service in Duluth reported.
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Even with more summer-like heat, the week ahead won't be snapping any records. Saturday's record holder was set more than a decade ago on a hot July afternoon in 2006 when the thermometer rose to 102 degrees.
Highs in triple digits are not anticipated any time soon. The forecast for the week ahead includes mostly sunny skies with highs near or exceeding 80 degrees. Monday should top out at 85 degrees with a slight chance of thunderstorms after 1 p.m. So far this month, the weather service reported the hottest days reached temps of 88 and 89 just after the Fourth of July. But July 13 and July 14 worked hard to bring down the month's averages with highs each day of 64 degrees-a nearly 12-degree departure from normal.
But summer heat lovers should take heart, July is normally the hottest month of the year before temperatures begin the inexorable slide.
