Last month was the hottest and driest September on record in the Twin Cities, according to the National Weather Service.
In Minneapolis-St. Paul, the average temperature for the month was 70.3 degrees – a whopping 6.6 degrees above normal and higher than the previous record high average temperature for September (69.1 degrees) set last year.
With this month’s highs in the 80s and 70s, it has been a long month with well above average temperatures, which are normally in the upper and mid 60s for the month.
Through Monday, the last day of September, the Twin Cities saw just 0.06 inches of precipitation for the month, surpassing the old record of 0.24 inches in 2022. Precipitation in September 2024 was more than 3 inches lower than normal in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
The dry spell followed an exceptionally wet period just three months ago, which ended the long drought. For example, June 2024 was the fourth wettest June and the fifth wettest month on record in Minnesota since the 1870s.
But the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows that more than 80% of Minnesota is now considered abnormally dry after the drought subsided in late summer.
About 15% of the state is experiencing moderate drought. The driest areas are in the northeast, part of north-central Minnesota and the southwestern corner of the state.
The unusually warm and dry weather prompted a red flag warning on Monday, warning of a very high fire danger across the state.
The fire risk is high and will remain high throughout October, barring sufficient precipitation, said Brennan Dettman, a meteorologist with the NWS office in Chanhassen.
The persistent fire risk is caused by three factors: a wet spring, a dry autumn and strong winds.
“It’s good to be aware of the Red Flag warning,” Dettman said Monday. “We had a wet spring and early summer, which allowed a lot of plants and vegetation to grow. We’re having an ominous dry spell now, so that’s all starting to dry out and could be potential fuel for fires to start. On windy days, like today, there is an increased fire risk because the dry weather and vegetation serve as a fuel source. If something sparks, the wind can cause this to get out of hand.”
Dettman said that without any substantial precipitation forecast for October, the abundance of vegetation will remain dry enough to provide fuel if fires break out.
“There is no real sign that there will be any significant rain at least in early October and that there will be no major cooling,” he said.
Tuesday starts October with what may feel like a cooler high of 66, but that’s actually average for October as a cold front with gusty winds passed through Minnesota on Monday.
But highs will again be in the upper 70s on Wednesday, Dettman said.
