Summer cold front to bring severe storms, then heat relief to Northern Plains
Large hail, frequent lightning and heavy rain are the primary threats, but these storms will also carry a risk of damaging winds with gusts to 60 mph.
Cold front to trigger severe storms across Northern Plains Friday
The advancing cold front is expected to trigger thunderstorms across the northern Plains on Friday before reaching into the upper Midwest on Saturday.
FARGO, N.D. – A strong summer cold front will roll across the northern Plains and Upper Midwest through the weekend that may put a damper on outdoor plans but, in exchange, will also bring some much-welcomed relief from a long hot stretch.
(FOX Weather)
Thunderstorms are first likely across the northern Plains on Friday, with the greatest risk of severe weather from southeastern North Dakota into northwestern Minnesota, including the towns of Fargo in North Dakota and Moorhead in Minnesota.
Large hail, frequent lightning and heavy rain are the primary threats, but these storms will also carry a risk of damaging winds with gusts to 60 mph. The threat of tornadoes is low.
(FOX Weather)
But moderate to strong thunderstorms with flash flooding are also possible across much of Minnesota and the Dakotas on Friday.
Cities such as Minneapolis and Rochester in Minnesota, Sioux Falls in South Dakota and La Crosse in Wisconsin are forecast to get the heaviest rain, with 1 to 3 inches likely.
7 FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FLASH FLOODS
(FOX Weather)
The front will move into the Upper Midwest on Saturday.
Relief from the heat on the way
They call it a "cold front" for a reason as cooler air will slide in behind the storms over the weekend, bringing a couple of days of more comfortable temperatures across the northern Plains.
Northern Plains to see heat relief thanks to cold front moving in
A cool air mass behind the front will bring a noticeable break in the heat across the northern Plains during the next couple of days.
"We have a cold front, and we know so many of you will be like 'hallelujah!' when you see this," says FOX Weather Meteorologist Michael Estime. "Temperatures tumbling the second half of the weekend – turn off the A/C; you won't need it."
Highs on Friday are reaching the 90s across the Dakotas and much of Minnesota. By Saturday, highs will drop into the 60s in eastern Montana and North Dakota, with 70s likely in South Dakota and lower 80s around Minneapolis.
(FOX Weather)
Pleasant weather holds into Sunday with highs in the 70s across much of that region, with a high of 70 degrees forecast Sunday in Minneapolis, Fargo and Sioux Falls.
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