Monday, May 25, was the hottest Memorial Day on record in Park Rapids and Baudette.
The National Weather Service office in Grand Forks noted that because Memorial Day's date bounces around, the heat didn't break any daily high temperature records.
International Falls was the only area to break a record Monday, reaching 89 degrees. The previous record of 88 degrees was set in 1919.
But more records may break this week, with near-record highs predicted for much of the Northland.
"Near normal this time of year is mid- to upper-60s, for the most part, so we're going to be pretty well above normal here for the rest of the week," said Bryan Howell, meteorologist for the weather service in Duluth.
Highs are in the 80s most of the week, with temps staying a bit cooler on the North Shore thanks to a breeze off Lake Superior.
"On Friday, could see 90s from International Falls to Grand Rapids to the Brainerd area, and that would be pushing 15, 20 degrees above normal," Howell said.
He explained a buckle in the jet stream is causing a heat dome to set up in the area, pumping all the warm air from the Great Plains to the Upper Midwest.
It’ll be a dry heat, with no rain for up to a week starting Wednesday. Low humidity means there are some fire weather concerns, but Howell said conditions won’t be explosive.
“Fortunately, we’re going to have high pressure in place, so that keeps the winds a little bit weaker," he said.
The low humidity also means the heat isn’t quite as dangerous, because your sweat can more easily evaporate. But Howell said you should still stay hydrated, take breaks from the sun and if you feel like you’re overheating, try to get into the air conditioning.
Temps will be above normal and precipitation below normal into the early part of June.
“So looks like this hot, dry pattern’s going to stick around for a bit," Howell said.
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