Updated:: Mar 8, 2018
Original:: Jul 4, 2012

Record high temps expected for July 4; Canterbury Park cancels races

Minnesota is grilling up near-record high temperatures this Fourth of July holiday. Expect about 100 degrees, with dewpoints in the mid-70s that create a heat index up to 112 degrees Wednesday afternoon. Topping 100 is rare in the metro – it's only been done four times since 1990, WCCO says.

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Near-record high temperatures are expected Wednesday to top out at about 100 degrees, the National Weather Service says. An excessive heat warning for all of central and southern Minnesota remains in place until 10 p.m. Thursday.

It'll be in the upper 80s Wednesday night when fireworks shows get underway, forecasters say. There's some relief in sight – forecasts call for highs in the mid-80s by the weekend.

Canterbury Park has cancelled races due to dangerously high heat index, WCCO says. It was the first time the park had canceled races due to heat, the Star Tribune says. Special festivities at the park were rescheduled for Saturday.

The record for this date in the metro is 100, set in 1949, KARE 11 reports:

This kind of heat wave is historic. WCCO had this striking stat: since 1990, the Twin Cities has only topped 100 degrees four times. This week, we'll add another two, WCCO says:

WCCO adds that we've had 13 days of 90 degrees or warmer, which is average for a whole summer – and we're only half way through.

Organizers at several area holiday events are taking extra precautions to protect people in the intense heat, KSTP reports.