Brandon Weatherz: Summery start to September

We’ll be feeling the heat on this first day of meteorological fall. Highs rise into the mid-80s under plentiful sunshine. Skies remain clear overnight, but with dew points in the low 60s, temperatures will only fall into the 60s. This allows for a warm and sticky night. Friday features a passing cold front that will mainly influence our temperatures, but it will present some chance for rain.

Isolated showers and thunderstorms will track along and ahead of the front, beginning in east central Minnesota and the Arrowhead Friday morning. Minnesota communities will be dry by the early afternoon as the front crosses the Wisconsin border. Northwest Wisconsin and U.P. communities then have the chance for isolated showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening as the front moves southeast.

As cooler air moves in from the northwest Friday, highs range from low 70s near International Falls to mid-80s along and east of the I-35 corridor. We begin to feel the chill in the air Friday night with lows in 40s and 50s, then highs stay mostly in the 60s for a cooler Saturday. High pressure becomes our main influencer once again, keeping mostly sunny skies with us through Labor Day weekend. Temps trend warmer through the start of next week with widespread 80s returning. Lake Superior’s influence will be a factor with an east wind expected Saturday and Sunday, and a southeast wind on Monday.

Today: Sunny and warm. High 85. SW wind 5-10 mph.

Tonight: Clear. Low 64. S wind 2-8 mph.

Friday: Partly cloudy and breezy with a slight chance for showers. High 82. W wind 10-15 mph.

Saturday: Sunny and cooler. High 64. E wind 5-15 mph.

Sunday: Sunny. High 68. E wind 5-10 mph.

Monday: Mostly sunny. High 76. SE wind 5-10 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High 80. S wind 5-10 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny. High 81. NW wind 5-10 mph.