Brutal Tuesday: Hottest Day in 23 Years

Tim Wieczeck took Tuesday afternoon off, hoping to spend it with some friends and colleagues playing a little golf at in Golden Valley.  But the group called it quits before they even finished playing the first hole.

"We can barely breathe out here," Wieczeck said as he put his barely used golf clubs back into the trunk of his car.  "I don't know what we were thinking coming out here."

Just before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the temperature at Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport hit 103 degrees, making it the hottest day we've had in the Twin Cities since 1988, according to Paul Huttner, meteorologist for Minnesota Public Radio.

In Golden Valley, most weather stations recorded the high at 102 degrees, something the Twin Cities hasn't seen since 1988.  As communities all over the metro hit record highs, people hitting the roads for their afternoon commute got an unwelcome surprise.  MnDOT reported several hazardous areas and classified them as "pavement failures."  And according to KSTP, from state highway 100 to Interstates 94 and 35W, pavement buckled because of the extreme heat.

Mark Vukelich, director of public relations at North Memorial Medical Center, said that as of 2 p.m. Tuesday, nobody had been hospitalized due to the heat. He said the hospital treated a few patients on Monday, though, for minor heat-related problems. 

"I think people are listening to some of the advisories," he said. "We're just telling people to stay hydrated, limit activity in the heat and sun and find cool spots."

Matt Krueger, a community service officer at the Golden Valley Police Department, said there had been no heat-related calls as of 4:00 p.m. Tuesday. 

Still, for people like Wieczeck, who couldn't stand to be outside for more than a few minutes, it may have been more than just the heat and humidity making conditions so miserable.  As temps went up, so did ozone levels, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air pollution health alert through midnight Tuesday night.  It's the first ozone alert for the metro since 2007.  The MPCA advised children, the elderly and people with respiratory issues to limit outdoor activity.

MPCA Air Quality Specialist Cassie McMahon told Minnesota Public Radio that events elsewhere can also affect Minnesota's ozone levels.

"Across the country all the central United States is being affected by the smoke from the wildfires in Arizona. And part of the emissions from those fires do actually contribute to the formation of ozone," she said.

Warnings were also issued for animals.  put out several tips for pet owners dealing with the record-breaking heat.

"I was going to play a little golf, go home and maybe cut the grass or take the dog for a walk, but there's no way any of that is going to happen," Wieczeck said. "I'm going home, cranking up the A/C and making sure my dog's got enough water."

The forecast calls for temperatures in the 60's and 70's by Thursday, and it can't come soon enough for most.

"I'm NOT (staying cool)," Barb Dols posted on the Golden Valley Patch Facebook page. "How can one? (I'm) trying to just lay in bed and sleep til it cools off!"