Sonali Tiwary
Minnesota is facing a difficult stretch of weather this week. Severe thunderstorms are in the forecast for Thursday afternoon and evening, with heat and humidity moving in close behind.
The National Weather Service Twin Cities office has forecast severe thunderstorms for Thursday, with conditions expected to develop in the afternoon and continue into the evening. That means the risk coincides with the afternoon commute and outdoor evening activity.
Once the storms pass, there won’t be much relief. Heat and humidity are forecast to return Friday and continue through the weekend. Heat-index values — the “feels like” temperature when humidity is factored in — could reach around 100°F during that stretch. That’s a significant heat threat on its own, following directly behind a severe weather event.
It doesn’t stop there. Forecasters expect repeated opportunities for showers and thunderstorms to continue into the following week. So the pattern isn’t a quick storm event clearing the air, with repeated storm chances persisting well into next week.
This kind of weather swing is particularly taxing. Storm cleanup — checking for downed branches, assessing property, dealing with power outages — typically happens in the days after a storm. If heat follows immediately, that recovery work is being done in more difficult conditions.
Anyone with outdoor plans this weekend should monitor the NWS Twin Cities forecast closely. Storm timing can shift, and heat advisories may be issued as conditions develop. Real-time updates from the NWS office will give the most accurate picture of what to expect hour by hour.
