Smoke-Filled Skies in the Midwest
Take a look at the image from the National Weather Service in North Platte, Nebraska from Saturday. Widespread wildfire smoke from Canada had enveloped much of the High Plains and Midwest with reduced visibilities and poor air qualities.

Smoke Analysis Through Midday Sunday
Saturday was a very smoky day across the region with reduced visibilities and poor air quality for much of the state. Thankfully, things will be improving on Sunday as the heaviest concentrations of smoke will drift south of Minnesota. Skies may still be a little hazy, but no where near what they were like on Saturday.

Simulated Radar
The simulated radar from AM Sunday to Midday Monday a swirl of showers and storms drifting across parts of northeastern Minnesota on Sunday and possibly lingering into Monday. However, other than that, much of the region will remain dry.

Extended Precipitation Outlook
According to NOAA's Weather Prediction Center, the extended precipitation outlook doesn't appear to show a ton of widespread rainfall. Through next week, there could be a few tenths of an inch here and there. The heaviest rains will be found farther north, where up to 0.50" maybe possible closer to the international border.

Drought Update
It has been an extremely dry stretch of weather across much of the station over the last several weeks. Only a few locations have seen decent pockets of rain, but the drought is expanding. Severe drought conditions have expanded from nearly 8.5% last week to nearly 11% this week, which encompasses parts of the east Metro. Moderate drought increased from 57% last week to 64% this week. We need rain!

60 Day Precipitation Anomaly
The map below shows the 60 day precipitation anomaly, which indicates that some locations are nearly -3.00" to nearly -7.00" below average (in red) since mid May. Spots in Southwest Minnesota still have a bit of a surplus, but much of the region is well below average precipitation.

Twin Cities Weather Outlook For Sunday
The weather outlook for the Twin Cities on Sunday, July 15th will be quiet and dry with temperatures warming to near 80F by the afternoon. Skies may still be a little hazy, but no where near the amount of haze that we had on Sunday.

Meteograms For Minneapolis
The hourly temps through the day Sunday shows temps starting in the mid 60s in the morning and topping out in the upper 70s in the afternoon. Skies will be dry and mostly sunny with not as much haze in the air as what we had on Saturday. West to northwesterly winds will be breezy with gusts approaching 20mph to 30mph through the day.