Brandon Weatherz: Cool lake wind persists

The smoky smell and haze from yesterday will be improving today. The Air Quality Alert has been allowed to expire for northwest Wisconsin, but it lingers for northeast Minnesota until 6 pm. Sensitive groups should limit outdoor exertion. Our Tuesday begins with patchy fog that may be locally dense for your morning commute. Skies will otherwise be a mix of clouds and sun. A few showers reach south of the Canadian border this morning, and we look west near Brainerd for showers and isolated thunderstorms into the afternoon. Yesterday’s breezy east wind persists today, bringing a high risk for rip currents. A Beach Hazard Statement is in effect until 9 pm. Dangerous swimming conditions on Park Point may repeat once more on Wednesday.

Temperatures will reach low to upper 70s for inland communities today while areas closer to Lake Superior stay cooler as was the case yesterday. Shoreline communities stay in the 60s with 50s and the need for a light jacket immediately by the lake. This temp spread in the Northland will repeat for our Wednesday. We trend warmer to end the week with 80s abounding by Friday. A dry stretch persists until Friday into Saturday when a round of showers and thunderstorms will be possible. Even this round doesn’t look to bring much in terms of widespread relief from the dry conditions.

Today: Partly cloudy and breezy. High 65. E wind 10-15 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy and breezy. Low 46. E wind 10-15 mph.

Tomorrow: Mostly sunny and breezy. High 67. E wind 10-15 mph.

Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy. Low 44. E wind 5-15 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny. High 74. SE wind 2-8 mph.

Friday: Partly sunny with a chance for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 77. SW wind 5-10 mph. Chance of rain: 30%.

Saturday: A chance for showers in the morning, then decreasing clouds. Breezy. High 69. E wind 10-15 mph. Chance of rain: 30%

Sunday: Sunny and breezy. High 68. E wind 10-15 mph.

Monday: Mostly sunny. High 75. NW wind 5-10 mph.