Heat in Minnesota, August 4 to 8, 2001

Name: Heat in Minnesota, August 4 to 8, 2001
Start: 2001-08-04T12:00
End: 2001-08-08T18:00
Location: Minnesota

August 4 to 8, 2001 · NWS MPX · 42 events in 42 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 42 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 5
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 42

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MPX wrote it up.

An extensive heat wave persisted for five days and resulted in five fatalities in Minneapolis and its suburbs. All deaths occurred in Hennepin County and were determined by the county medical examiner. Three of the victims had been on medications at the time.Hot weather and tropical-like humidity pervaded the region, as virtually all stations registered highs in the 90s all five days. Most locales noted highs in the middle and upper 90s, but there were two places which topped out in triple digits: Santiago (Sherburne County) reached 100 on August 5, and Granite Falls (Yellow Medicine County) saw 100 on August 6. Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) reached 98 or 99 three straight days (August 5-7) when highs were 98, 99 and 98 respectively; the highs at MSP on August 6 and August 7 set records. Record low minima at MSP were also established three straight days: on August 6 when the low was only 80, on August 7 when the low was only 76, and again August 8 when the low only dropped to 77. A record high was also set August 6 in St. Cloud (STC) when the high reached 98.Meanwhile, dewpoints were in the 70s regionwide, and occasionally the low 80s. Heat indexes exceeded 100 most every day at most every location. A few noteworthy heat indexes, including the highest known value for each day, are:August 4 - 110 at Morris (Stevens County), 107 at Redwood Falls (Redwood County), and 102 at MSP.August 5 - 114 at Alexandria (Douglas County) and Morris (Stevens County), 110 at Maple Lake (Wright County) and Montevideo (Chippewa County), and 107 at Mankato (Blue Earth County) and at MSP.August 6 - 118 at Rush City (Chisago County), 114 at Redwood Falls (Redwood County), 110 at Faribault (Rice County), and 109 at MSP.August 7 - 117 at Morris (Stevens County), 116 at Redwood Falls (Redwood County), 109 at MSP, and 107 at Staples (Todd County).August 8 - 102 at Little Falls (Morrison County) and Staples (Todd County), 100 at Appleton (Swift County), and 95 at MSP.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Twin Cities, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 4, 10:15 AM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 4, 10:15 AM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1115 AM CDT SAT AUG 4 2001

HEAT ADVISORY CONTINUES TO LOOK GOOD IN WRN ZONES WITH DEWPOINTS IN
THE MID 70S AND TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 90S.  THE REST OF THE AREA
MORE MARGINAL ALTHOUGH CONTINUED HOT AND HUMID.  THE LATEST RUC
MODEL INDICATED SOME CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL IS SWRN MN WITH A WARM
FRONT/DRY LINE PUSHING IN FROM THE PLAINS.  THIS MAY BE OVERDONE
WITH OUT MUCH UPPER SUPPORT...BUT AN ISOLATED STORM MAY BE POSSIBLE.
FOR NOW THE FORECAST WILL LEAVE OUT A MENTION OF STORMS.

.MSP...HEAT ADVISORY THIS AFTERNOON WEST OF AN ALEXANDRIA-WILLMAR-
FAIRMONT LINE.
 SCOTT

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

42 heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Heat, Anoka

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Anoka forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.273, -93.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Benton

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Benton forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.699, -93.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Blue Earth

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Blue Earth forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.035, -94.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Brown

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Brown forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.242, -94.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Carver

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Carver forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.821, -93.803 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Chippewa

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Chippewa forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.022, -95.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Chisago

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Chisago forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.503, -92.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Dakota

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Dakota forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.672, -93.065 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Douglas

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Douglas forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.934, -95.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Faribault

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Faribault forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.674, -93.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Freeborn

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Freeborn forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.674, -93.349 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Goodhue

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Goodhue forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.410, -92.723 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Hennepin

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Hennepin forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.005, -93.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Isanti

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Isanti forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.562, -93.295 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Kanabec

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Kanabec forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.945, -93.293 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Kandiyohi

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Kandiyohi forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.152, -95.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Lac Qui Parle

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Lac Qui Parle forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.996, -96.173 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Le Sueur

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Le Sueur forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.371, -93.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Martin

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Martin forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.674, -94.551 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, McLeod

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: McLeod forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.824, -94.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Meeker

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Meeker forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.123, -94.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Mille Lacs

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Mille Lacs forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.938, -93.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Morrison

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Morrison forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.013, -94.268 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Nicollet

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Nicollet forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.350, -94.247 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Pope

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Pope forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.586, -95.444 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Ramsey

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Ramsey forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.017, -93.100 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Redwood

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Redwood forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.404, -95.254 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Renville

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Renville forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.727, -94.947 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Rice

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Rice forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.354, -93.297 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Scott

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Scott forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.649, -93.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Sherburne

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Sherburne forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.444, -93.775 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Sibley

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Sibley forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.580, -94.232 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Stearns

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Stearns forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.552, -94.613 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Steele

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Steele forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.022, -93.226 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Stevens

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Stevens forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.586, -96.000 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Swift

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Swift forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.283, -95.681 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Todd

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Todd forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.071, -94.898 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Waseca

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Waseca forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.022, -93.587 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Washington

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.039, -92.884 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Watonwan

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Watonwan forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.978, -94.614 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Wright

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.174, -93.963 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Yellow Medicine

When: August 4, 12:00 PM CST to August 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Yellow Medicine forecast zone
Deaths: 5 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.716, -95.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Heat, Yellow Medicine	2001-08-08	74	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Yellow Medicine	2001-08-09	72	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Yellow Medicine	2001-08-09	43	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Yellow Medicine	2001-08-09	46	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Yellow Medicine	2001-08-17	88	Female	Permanent Home	Direct

What these are

Heat: Heat below excessive heat criteria that still caused deaths, injuries or significant impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Minnesota in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, August 2001

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5267276, 5267277, 5267278, 5267279, 5267280, 5267281, 5267282, 5267283, 5267284, 5267285, 5267286, 5267287, 5267288, 5267289, 5267290, 5267291, 5267292, 5267293, 5267294, 5267295, 5267296, 5267297, 5267298, 5267299, 5267300, 5267301, 5267302, 5267303, 5267304, 5267305, 5267306, 5267307, 5267308, 5267309, 5267310, 5267311, 5267312, 5267313, 5267395, 5267396, and more.