The fall vibes are on hold across much of the Midwest this week.
An extraordinary October heat wave could bring record-breaking temperatures to the northern Plains and Upper Midwest in the coming days, with Minneapolis forecast to reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend.
Temperatures across the region are expected to be up to 30 degrees higher than normal on Friday and Saturday. Highs well above 80 degrees will be common from South Dakota east to Illinois. Some places may climb into the low to mid-90s, according to the National Weather Service.
“Despite the calendar saying it’s October, it sure will be feeling much more summer-like than fall-like the next few days,” the weather service said Thursday in its short-range forecast.
Dozens of new daily temperature records could be set Friday and into the weekend, including in Minneapolis; Bismarck, North Dakota; Rapid City, South Dakota; Madison, Wisconsin; and Moline, Illinois.
These parts of the country are largely unaccustomed to summery conditions at this time of year. The Minneapolis-St. Paul area, for instance, has only hit or exceeded 90 degrees in October three times in recorded history, according to data from the National Weather Service, which has maintained temperature records since 1872.
Heat waves are becoming more frequent and more severe as a result of climate change, studies have shown. Extreme heat events are also expected to last longer as the planet warms.
This week’s unusual warmth is caused by a ridge of high pressure that remains parked over the Plains and Midwest, according to the National Weather Service. When these areas of high pressure stall over land, they tend to trap hot air and drive up temperatures for days on end.
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