Record October heat hits Upper Midwest, with 90s in Minnesota
Strong winds from the south pushed temperatures to record highs across the Upper Midwest on Saturday. St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, hit 90 degrees, while Green Bay and Appleton, Wisconsin, reached 84. Forecasters warned of fire risk and said cooler air should arrive by midweek.
Record highs fell across the Upper Midwest on Saturday as strong southerly winds pumped summer-like air into Minnesota, the Dakotas and Wisconsin, MPR News and FOX 11 in Green Bay reported, though the numbers are still preliminary.
In Minnesota, St. Cloud hit 90 degrees, beating its Oct. 10 record of 88 set in 1928, MPR News reported, while Alexandria and Marshall also reached 90 and Willmar hit 91. Brainerd reached 89, topping a 1928 record of 85. Bemidji, far to the north, hit 86, well above its old mark of 74. In the Dakotas, Sioux Falls reached 90 and Fargo hit 89, while the Twin Cities tied its 1928 record of 90, and La Crosse, Wisconsin, tied its 1928 record of 86.
In Northeast Wisconsin, Green Bay reached 84, breaking its Oct. 10 record of 82 from 1938, FOX 11 reported. Appleton also hit 84, topping its record of 80 from 2018, though areas along the Lake Michigan shore stayed cooler, in the 60s and 70s.
The heat came with a warning, as warm, dry air and gusty winds raised the risk of fires spreading in Minnesota, MPR News reported. No red flag warnings were issued, because humidity stayed above 25%, but people were urged to avoid outdoor burning and to take care using equipment in dry fields.
It was the first time since Sept. 3 that the Twin Cities and St. Cloud had officially reached 90 degrees, MPR News reported. Several of the old records dated back nearly a century, to 1928.
Relief is coming, but not right away: FOX 11 said Sunday should approach 80 again in Northeast Wisconsin, and more records could fall. Green Bay's Oct. 11 record is 83, set in 2024. In Minnesota, cooler air and clouds were set to reach the northwest on Sunday, with light rain possible into Monday. A cold front should bring more normal temperatures by Tuesday, and the next good chance of real rain is Thursday, MPR News reported.
What we know: Many cities in Minnesota, the Dakotas and Wisconsin set or tied preliminary record highs for Oct. 10 on Saturday, with several reaching 90 or higher.
What we don't: Whether forecasters will confirm all the records once they are finalized, and whether more fall on Sunday.
Where outlets agree MPR News and FOX 11 both report that record highs for Oct. 10 fell on Saturday as temperatures climbed well into the 80s or higher.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.