Wednesday, July 17 – New York time
Unseasonably cool and dry air is making its way into Minnesota this afternoon, delivering a brief but refreshing pause from what has been a highly variable July. According to meteorologist Sven Sundgaard, the current rain system is exiting the region today, allowing for clearing skies and a noticeable drop in temperatures.
Daytime highs are expected to settle in the mid-70s°F (around 24°C) in much of the state, with even cooler overnight lows dipping into the 50s°F (10–15°C) in rural areas. This cool spell is unusual for mid-July, a time typically marked by persistent warmth and rising humidity.
Friday night, however, another weather disturbance will slide into Minnesota, bringing showers back into the forecast. While this will slightly interrupt what otherwise looks like a seasonable and comfortable weekend, eyes are already on the next major shift in the pattern.
Starting early next week, upper-level ridging may return with intense heat building across the Central Plains, poised to push northward. Minnesota could find itself on the edge of what’s called the “ring of fire” — a setup where storms wrap around a large high-pressure system, bringing severe weather threats along its periphery while dangerous heat dominates underneath. If the ridge builds as expected, highs may surge into the upper 80s and 90s°F (31–37°C).
Stay tuned as forecasts evolve — a rapid transition from this refreshing cooldown to oppressive heat appears increasingly likely for Minnesota as we move through July.
