Transcripts

SPEAKER: It's going to be a hot and humid week across the region this week. Highs will be in the 90s across much of Minnesota. That puts additional stress on crops and expands the threat of wildfires. Riham Feshir has more.

[CHILDREN SQUEALING]

RIHAM FESHIR: This is the sound of summer-- kids splashing around in the pool, running around in sprinklers. It's fun, of course, gives them something to do when it's too hot to do anything else, and it helps them cool off. But for adults, we need rain.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says with 52% of the state in severe or extreme drought, there is now a drought warning in effect. Water levels are low on the Mississippi River, which supplies drinking water for many communities, and widespread rain isn't in the forecast any time soon.

Luigi Romolo is the Minnesota State climatologist with the DNR. He says the rainfall deficits started to build up early in the season, with only one month wetter than normal this year-- a dry start that will only keep going.

LUIGI ROMOLO: We've had droughts before in 2013 and 2007, but this is really the first time since about 1988 that we've had a serious drought that has started at the start of the growing season and is likely to continue throughout most of the growing season.

RIHAM FESHIR: The state is taking some steps to respond. That includes a task force made up of federal, state, and local experts that hasn't convened since 2012, and some municipalities are mandating water restrictions.

The DNR says it will take at least 3 to 5 inches of rain, spread over a period of two weeks, to really alleviate the drought, and that's not expected this week.

NICOLE MITCHELL: It is spotty.

RIHAM FESHIR: MPR meteorologist Nicole Mitchell says over the next couple of days, the Twin Cities and Northern Minnesota will get a little bit of rain, but not enough to make a dent.

NICOLE MITCHELL: A lot of places will miss out on rain altogether this week. And the places that do get something, most of it will be under a quarter of an inch. Whereas, this time of year, we should be getting almost an inch of rain a week depending on where you are.

RIHAM FESHIR: With the hot weather, air conditioning is sure to be running overtime, but Xcel Energy customers have some options to reduce usage. They can sign up for what's called a saver switch that turns off air conditioning units automatically for about 15 minutes each hour. Customers are also encouraged to use LED lights, ceiling fans, and run appliances like dishwashers at night, when the weather cools down a bit and the pressure on the grid eases.

John Marshall is community relations director with Xcel.

JOHN MARSHALL: Very confident heading into this long stretch of hot weather. We've seen a few already this summer. We've been running the utility system here for well over a hundred years in Minnesota. We're very used to inclement weather, both winter and summer.

RIHAM FESHIR: The drought is also being felt up north with increased fire danger. Over the weekend, Superior National Forest officials expanded closures of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness north of Ely. That's because of growing concerns from wildfires that continue to burn just across the Canadian border.

The closures include a number of entry points along with trails, campsites, portages, and lakes. It's not uncommon to see high temperatures in the 90s, or even hundreds, in July in Minnesota, but it was unusually early when the weather pattern started last month. Looking ahead, the extended forecast shows continued above average temperatures as meteorologists predict finishing out the month of July hot and dry. Riham Feshir, NPR News.