Minneapolis-St. Paul opens today, Saturday, July 18, with sunny skies and a comfortable-for-summer high near 89°F, a nice break from Friday’s mid-90s heat — it’s a green light for anything outdoors, from Harriet Island to the ballfields at CHS Field.
Today’s Setup
The National Weather Service’s Twin Cities office says high pressure is sliding in behind an early-morning frontal passage, bringing today’s cooler, drier air. Wind stays light out of the north at 5 to 10 mph, skies are sunny, and there’s 0% chance of rain. Overnight lows dip to around 71°F under mostly clear skies with a light north-northwest breeze — great sleeping weather with the windows cracked.
Smoke Watch And Storms Ahead
Forecasters are watching smoke drifting down from ongoing fires in Ontario. The heaviest smoke and moderate air quality are expected over northeast Minnesota and northern Wisconsin today, but the NWS notes some smoke could work into east central and southeast Minnesota — including the Twin Cities — tonight into Sunday, though that’s less certain. The bigger story: the NWS’s key messages flag a chance for strong to severe storms Sunday into Monday as a system tracks in from the Canadian Prairies. Sunday night’s forecast already shows a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 AM.
Best Window To Be Outside
Today and Sunday are the pick of the week — sunny, dry, and warm, with Sunday’s high near 91°F under a light south wind. Get outdoor plans in now before the pattern shifts. Riverfront outings, patio dinners, and lake trips are favored both days.
Weekend Plans And Events
St. Paul’s riverfront hosts the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival at Harriet Island Regional Park today — sunny and warm, so pack water and sun protection. Heading downtown tonight for the Minnesota Lynx vs. Portland Fire at Target Center? Get tickets on SeatGeek and pick up official team gear on Fanatics before tipoff. Looking ahead, 5 Seconds of Summer plays Mystic Lake Amphitheater on July 22 — see our 5 Seconds of Summer show preview, grab a 5 Seconds of Summer t-shirt, and Find tickets on StubHub. The St. Paul Saints host the Columbus Clippers at CHS Field that same evening.
What To Bring
Wind stays light through the weekend, but if you’re setting up at the festival grounds or securing patio furniture ahead of Sunday night’s storms, a pop-up canopy tent with weights, outdoor furniture covers, and a bungee cord assortment are worth having on hand.
Dinner Tonight
With calm, dry weather through this evening, it’s perfect grilling weather — burgers, steaks, or grilled chicken with corn on the cob are all fair game on the patio. An instant-read meat thermometer and grill brush and scraper set make doneness and cleanup easy. For a smokier twist, check out our guide on how to smoke tri-tip like brisket. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Sunday stays hot and sunny with a high near 91°F before showers and thunderstorms move in overnight, mainly after 1 AM. That unsettled, potentially strong-to-severe pattern continues into Monday, and the NWS says cooler, near-to-slightly-below-normal temperatures arrive by Tuesday — a real break from this stretch of summer heat.
