Heat Set to Move into the Plains States This Week
Alexis Thornton
Last weekThe lack of rain lately across the Plains states will be compounded by an upcoming surge of hot temperatures. The warmth that has been centered over the western U.S. is going to push to the east and into the Plains in the days ahead. Here is a look at what you can expect with this September influx of heat.
Temperatures Set to Reach Well Above Normal for Much of Central U.S.
The nation's heartland will be under the gun for a stretch of hot and dry weather this week as a zone of high pressure strengthens over the region. Temperatures will hover about 10 to 20 degrees over the norm for the middle of September. This will translate to readings in the 80s and 90s for much of the region. An abundance of sunshine will make it feel even warmer at times.
Some isolated communities may even see the mercury inch up past the century mark. This will be most likely in the western edge of South Dakota. For instance, Rapid City is forecast to potentially break records set in the 1990s. Highs are predicted to reach 95 degrees on Monday under mostly sunny skies. Temperatures will remain moderate overnight with lows bottoming out in the mid 60s. The mercury will remain in the 90s on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday before falling back to the 80-degree mark on Friday in Rapid City.
The Front Range of the Rockies will also see readings well over the historical average. Denver typically sees temperatures in the low 80s this time of the year, however, the forecast is calling for highs to hit the low 90s on Monday with readings in the upper 80s on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Mile High City could see another day with temperatures eclipsing the 90-degree mark on Thursday before settling back in the 80s for the weekend. It will remain dry during this time period.
The warmth will be the most noticeable in areas of northern Wisconsin and northeastern Minnesota. This is a part of the country that was under freeze warnings and frost advisories early Saturday as the temperatures slipped into the 30s.
The mercury will top out in the upper 80s in cities such as Minneapolis. You can expect the heat to gradually build throughout the week, peaking on Wednesday and Thursday. Overnight lows will bounce around in the mid 60s throughout the week in the Twin Cities while skies will be mostly sunny to partly cloudy.
Wednesday will also be the peak day of heat for Kansas City. The metro area that stretches across parts of Kansas and Missouri is expecting a high of 90 degrees by the middle of the week with an abundance of sunshine.