Wildfire smoke will briefly clear across the Northland this afternoon before drifting back into the Twin Ports and northwest Wisconsin tonight, with hazy conditions and a low near 61 degrees.
Lingering smoke will start Sunday, then southwest winds will clear the skies and lift afternoon temperatures to around 85 degrees. Heat and humidity will begin Sunday. The break will be short-lived, with a 30 percent chance of storms after midnight that could bring large hail and damaging winds into early Monday morning.
Monday looks very active as a strong cold front raises storm chances, especially after 1:00 PM. Conditions will favor severe storms, including strong supercells that could produce large hail, damaging winds, and an isolated tornado. Breezy winds may gust up to 30 miles per hour, with highs near 84 degrees before the system moves out Monday night.
Tuesday turns cooler and sunny, with a high near 77 degrees, though strong northwest winds gusting to 30 miles per hour may bring a thick plume of wildfire smoke back into the region. Winds ease Wednesday as high pressure builds overhead, starting a sunny and pleasant midweek stretch with highs in the upper 70s. Thursday stays quiet and warm before rain shower chances return Friday.
To stay safe when smoke levels spike, check the Air Quality Index (AQI) regularly, keep your windows closed, and limit strenuous outdoor activities. Sensitive groups, including children, the elderly, and anyone with respiratory conditions, should take extra care or wear an N95 mask if they must spend time outside. Pets can also be affected by smoke, so keep them indoors as much as possible, shorten bathroom breaks, provide plenty of fresh water, and watch for coughing, heavy panting, watery eyes, or trouble breathing…