Triple-digit Temperatures May Hit the Plains This Week

Posted: June 14, 2021 12:25 pm

Relief from Heat Forecast by End of the Week for Central and Northern Plains

The West Coast is not the only area of the country expected to see searing heat this week. The scorching hot June heat will move from the west into the Plains states over the next few days, bringing the potential of triple-digit temperatures into the Dakotas and beyond.

Hot June: It has been an unseasonably warm June for much of the northern and central Plains this year. This heat will continue to bear down into the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin as the new week kicks off. The heatwave is predicted to last through at least Thursday for much of the region, signaling that summer is here to stay for the next few months.

Already Sweltering: This area has been no stranger to the heat so far this year. For example, Minneapolis has set three new daily record temperatures already this month. In addition, the Twin Cities region also experienced nine straight days of 90-degree or above temperatures.

Other cities that have seen temperatures well above average for June so far include Bismarck, North Dakota; Omaha, Nebraska; Kansas City, and Denver.

Heat Spells Trouble for Drought Conditions: While those who want an early start on summer are happy with the current weather pattern, the heat is not doing any favors for the ongoing drought. Some parts of the central Plains have seen relief in recent weeks thanks to multiple instances of heavy rain.

However, this week’s forecasted heat is predicted to worsen the drought in some areas that are expected to remain relatively dry. Although isolated thunderstorms may pop up in the late afternoon and evening hours in some spots, widespread rain is not in the forecast. Any bit of rain will be a welcome relief for the most parched areas.

Heat to Build Throughout Week: Monday and Tuesday will be the coolest days of the week for the Plains. As the heat continues to build in the west, this warmth will gradually push to the east to infiltrate the Plains. Wednesday is expected to be the hottest day of the week with temperatures forecast to hit the upper 90s and maybe even triple digits for the hottest areas.

The areas most likely to see the mercury soar over 100 degrees include eastern Colorado, western Kansas, and the northern tier of South Dakota. High humidity in this area will make the real feel temperature feel even warmer.

Relief from the Heat: The heat will finally begin to break by the end of the week. A pair of cold fronts are on tap to drop down from Canada, bringing a slight cooldown to areas stretching from the Great Lakes and into the Northeast. The far reaches of the first front may lower the thermometer in the Twin Cities.

However, the most significant relief will come from the second front later in the week. The arrival of this front should drop temperatures back to normal June levels by the weekend.

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