Unseasonably Warm Mother's Day Ahead for Northern Plains and Beyond

The heat is on the way for a large part of the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest, making Mother's Day weekend feel more like the Fourth of July weekend in many areas. Here is a look at the toasty forecast for the north-central U.S.

Temperatrues Surge Across North-Central U.S.

The same Omega blocking pattern that has been responsible for the rinse and repeat pattern of rain for the Northeast and the South is also going to usher in a dry and warm pattern for the north-central U.S. A storm is expected to stall out over the Southeast in the days ahead. This will pair with an incoming storm from the Pacific Ocean to create an atmospheric traffic jam over parts of the West, the northern and central Plains states, and the Upper Midwest through the weekend. The end result will be a significant uptick in temperatures over the next few days for this part of the country.

For instance, Bismarck, North Dakota, will soar into the 80s on Thursday and Friday. This will seem warm to residents after the long winter, however, it will get even steamier on the weekend when the mercury hits the mid 90s during the peak afternoon heating hours on Sunday.

Bismarck may also challenge a record high on Saturday. The current record of 90 degrees dates back to 1987. The latest forecast calls for highs to hover around that barrier, meaning that the record could be in reach given the right swings.

Sunday's record of 96 degrees, dating back to 1906, could also be challenged in Bismarck. In addition to the heat, winds will also be an issue for those in this part of the northern Plains. Bismarck is bracing for winds out of the south at 15 to 25 mph with occasional gusts of up to 40 mph. Skies will be mostly sunny during this time with just a few passing clouds to break the heat.

It will be a similar situation to the east in Minneapolis. The Twin Cities are forecast to see a high in the mid 80s on Friday and Saturday. Mother Nature will really ratchet up the heat on Sunday with a forecast high of 93 degrees. Winds will also be a major weather storyline, clocking in at speeds of 10 to 20 mph from the south-southwest with gusts that could eclipse the 40 mph mark.

The heat will come as a surprise to residents in this part of the northern U.S. For instance, the warmest that it has been in Minneapolis this year was 83 degrees earlier in the week. Local officials are warning people in the impact zone to be aware of the risks of heat exhaustion, particularly during this part of the season when the body is not acclimated.

The risk of cold water shock is another concern. While it may be tempting to jump into a pond or a lake to cool off, it is important to remember that water temperatures have still not caught up with the air temperatures. The cold water puts you more at risk of muscle cramping and drowning.

Warmth Expands as Weekend Progresses

The warmth will spread to the east into places such as Chicago throughout the weekend. The Windy City will enjoy temperatures in the low 70s on both Saturday and Sunday. Although this is a far cry from the 90-degree temperatures to the west, it will still feel noticeably warmer than the readings in the 50s expected on Thursday and Friday. The city on the shores of Lake Michigan will also appreciate the plentiful sunshine in store.

The mercury will inch upward in areas farther to the south. Major metro areas such as Omaha, Des Moines, and Kansas City will also see temperatures hover in the 80s. This equates to departures from the historical average of 10 to 20 degrees.

For instance, Omaha is predicted to see the readings climb into the upper 80s on both days of the weekend. It will be just slightly cooler to the south in Kansas City, where highs in the low to mid 80s will be on tap.

The warm temperatures will also work to evaporate the clouds over the region. resulting in plenty of sunshine. The abundance of sunshine over the weekend will also work to nudge the real feel readings upwards.

As noted earlier, winds will begin to pick up in the back half of the weekend. The increasing temperatures will pair with the breezy conditions to raise the threat of brush fires. A large swath of the northern Plains is under the designation of abnormally dry conditions or higher, putting the parched vegetation at a greater risk of becoming tinder. Residents are being asked to exercise caution when working with open flames.

Looking ahead to the new work week, the heat will linger through at least Monday before a noticeable cooldown settles in on Tuesday across the northern Plains. It will be a different story for the central Plains, where the temperatures will continue to be on the upswing.

Did you find this content useful? Feel free to bookmark or to post to your timeline for reference later.