The National Weather Service's Twin Cities/Chanhassen office issued an Extreme Heat Watch for the Bloomington area at 1:50 a.m. on July 24, warning that a dangerous combination of heat and humidity would move in by the weekend. By midday July 25, the watch had been upgraded to an Extreme Heat Warning, in effect until 9 p.m. Sunday, July 26.
The warning covers the seven-county metro, including Hennepin County, with heat index values — how hot it actually feels once humidity is factored in — expected to climb as high as 102 degrees. That kind of heat raises the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke fast, especially for anyone without reliable air conditioning, working outside, or watching kids or older relatives.
This isn't the first time this summer Bloomington has landed under one of these alerts. A heat advisory covering the metro went out July 11. Now, less than two weeks later, the region is dealing with an even more serious warning-level event — a reminder that this summer's heat has been less a single bad week than a recurring pattern.
Standard heat-safety guidance applies: drink water steadily rather than waiting until you're thirsty, stay in air-conditioned spaces during the hottest parts of the day, limit strenuous outdoor activity, and never leave kids or pets in a parked car.
Residents without air conditioning at home have options nearby. Hennepin County keeps an interactive map of public cooling spaces — libraries, government centers, rec centers, pools and beaches — that stay open and air-conditioned during heat events like this one.
For the next 12 hours and today's records, see Bloomington weather; for the days ahead, the 10-day forecast.
