Heat, Pollution Advisories Issued For Wednesday

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Not only is it expected to be extra hot in Minnesota on Wednesday, the Twin Cities and Rochester have also been put under an air pollution health advisory.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says ozone levels are likely to reach unhealthy levels between noon and midnight, due to a combination of high temperatures, sunny skies, surface pollutants and wildfire smoke from southwesterly winds.

The MPCA recommends that the elderly, children and anyone with existing health issues should limit their exposure to outside conditions as much as possible to avoid potential respiratory issues.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service is issuing an advisory of its own for Wednesday. The NWS has issued a heat advisory for most of the southern half of the state, effective from 1 p.m. through 8 p.m.

Web Extra: WCCO Heat Resources

"The biggest problem is not just the temperatures. It's the humidity," said WCCO meteorologist Matt Brickman, adding the area can expect "really high dewpoints today."

Temperatures are expected to get into the mid-90s in the Twin Cities, and with the humidity it will feel like more than 100 degrees at times, according to Brickman.

Further south toward the Minnesota-Iowa border, it could feel closer to 110 degrees.

Wednesday should be the eighth day in the 90s for the Twin Cities so far this year, Brickman said. For the next seven days, Brickman says the Twin Cities should see high temperatures anywhere from 5 to 15 degrees above average.

There may be a few showers north on Wednesday, but the atmosphere will be capped limiting the opportunity for storms to fire up.

Natalie Kane reported Wednesday morning on some of the best things you can do to keep your cool during extra hot days. Click here to read some of those tips.