The good news out of all of this is that it does look like August will start off warmer then most of the month of July starting on Sunday. 
That comes after we return to the 80s for a day on Friday. We cool off again on Saturday - but then... then... we warm up significantly. Look at these temperatures we're seeing as a possibility for Sunday and then Tuesday:
First, 80s to 90s in the viewing area for Sunday. Could be a good day for a pool outing or something of that sort. Then things get warm again for Tuesday:
Looks similar on that map - but what we're seeing is the chance of some slightly warmer temperatures than even these on the map. We'll see - it could change a bit over the next couple of days, so don't bet the farm on our first 90 degree day in a while... but it could happen.
If you're wondering why we're so cold right now, look closely at that image above. That is a map showing the winds at the jetstream level. See how right over South Dakota there is the bottom of a u-shape? That is a dip in the jetstream that is allowing some very cool Canadian air to sink in. The jet stream starts to shift toward next week - but really doesn't look to get into a truly summer-like pattern in the short term.
However, we are seeing a little sunshine in areas of the east as clouds have not rolled in quite yet. That will help many areas along and east of I-29 get into the 70's today. Here is the edge of the clouds approaching I-29 at the present time.
~KDLT Meteorologist Cody Matz
Here are the average high temperatures for this time of the year.
Highs on your Wednesday look like they will be 15-25 degrees cooler then average. And in some cases, we could be setting record low high temperatures for the date that go all the way back to the 1880's. So enjoy today because sunshine will be tough to find Wednesday and Thursday.
Notice the line over the Sioux Falls area. That line indicates where average highs of about 85 should be for Wednesday. The next image is of what we're looking for in the area - at least from the computer models:
How about some upper 60s to lower and middle 70s for high temperatures. This at the end of July - our typically hotter month. Obviously nothing is typically about those temperatures. A large and unusually strong storm system is to blame. How much rain we'll get remains to be seen - but everyone should expect some showers and/or thunderstorms Wednesday to Wednesday night.
A few very light showers not producing a lot of rainfall. But the next system could be a pretty potent one. Looking at the models this morning, there is an unprecedented agreement amongst all of the models about Wednesdays storm. This gives most of our area anywhere between .50" and 1.50" of rain. Here is the forecast for rainfall on Wednesday afternoon. 
Notice both models have similar amounts and are very similar in timing. Not only this but if the rain were to keep it's present course, speed, and intensity, there is the possibility that Wednesday could be one of the coldest July days on record. Look at what one model is forecasting for temperatures in the late afternoon.
Notice that many areas are struggling just to get to 60 and some places may actually be shy of that mark. I don't have to tell you that that's a bit unusually for the month of July. Enjoy the 80's while you can!!
Well the tornado warning was expired before NYC could be included in it, though wind and hail reports were quite common around the area from the severe storms that rolled through. Flash flood warnings were also issued as storms continued to develop on top of the same area.
that pass over the Northern Hemisphere. If you keep an eye on the US (in that loop link) . . . we're basically stuck in between a ridge to the West and a trough to the East. This is why the Ohio River Valley and folks just to the east of us have been seeing even cooler days than us and why people in the south have been seeing continuous heat and lack of rain showers. Usually that track of 500mb heights is like a line that little pulses of energy follow which will give us rainshowers and any other type of weather.
After that - the heat is on again. At least for a day or so. We're looking for some 80s to 90s returning to the area on Sunday, after a cooler day on Saturday. Here are some temperatures we're looking for on Sunday:
Looks nice. Unfortunately another cold front comes through to kick off the week. The speed of that cool front will really decide how warm/cool Monday is. Right now Monday looks to be similar toward the East to Sunday - but if that cold front speeds up it could change things. Either way the weekend looks good! Just be ready for a light breeze on Saturday.
That background picture of the Blue Angels was actually taken today by one of our production assistants at KDLT. It also gave me a chance to have some fun with Photoshop and add the glow around the planes. 
Over the last 21 months (including this one), Watertown has had 15 months below average, Pierre is at 16, and 19 of the last 21 months, Aberdeen has been below average. So how long is this going to last? Well, there hasn't been any signs of this pattern letting up and the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) agrees, not only in the short term but the long term as well. The next 8-14 days show high probabilities of staying below average and the next three months include much of eastern South Dakota in the below average category as well. 
~KDLT Meteorologist Cody Matz
This was from SpaceWeather.com: On Wednesday, July 22nd, the Moon eclipsed the midday sun over China. "The temperature dropped from 96.6 F to 88.5F at totality," reports Donald Gardner from Huangshan. "The roosters were crowing and the streetlights came on!"
Check out those 70s around the area! If you are going to be missing the September-esque temperatures we've been seeing around here lately over the next couple of days, we get right back into it early next week.
To put these numbers into perspective, a month is considered to be below average if the figure is 1.5 degrees below the average and is considered to be well below average if the figure is 3.0 degrees below the average. Notice that almost all of these numbers are below the mark of 3.0 degrees.
See that line across eastern South Dakota? That divides the lower 80s from the upper 80s. That means we're looking at middle to upper 80s on Thursday, with a few 90s on the western edge of our viewing area. Considering that our average high temperatures are in the middle to upper 80s, it should feel more "normal" for July on those days (Thursday and possibly Friday).
Those pictures are from Zach in Pierre, and remember that you can always send us pictures to weather@kdlt.com or to me at a_shaffer@kdlt.com...
You can see storms kind of forming that line extending basically from NE to the SW... right now closing in on Huron - but mainly with just heavy rain and some wind. We have seen some hail possibilities out there... but only sparse areas of that possibility.
High probabilities for much of the upper Midwest to see temperatures below normal through the next 14 days. So it doesn't look like we will get a heat wave anytime soon which is good for all of our pocketbooks.
~KDLT Meteorologist Cody Matz
Another chilly start to the weekend, but we'll see temperatures back around average tonight. The warmer air is thanks to the southerly winds we're finally seeing once again. Those winds are also bringing up more humidity though, so we do have the potential of some severe weather for the evening and overnight.
The most unstable air is in western and central South Dakota... we've got storms moving in from the West (I circled them in pink) and they are moving southeast. Quarter size hail and wind gusts over 60mph are accompanied with these storms. Air is more stable in eastern South Dakota, so just expect thundershowers in the East.
This system will bring more showers and storms across the rest of the state during the day on Monday. The best chance for rain will be in eastern central SD with most places seeing a quarter of an inch.
If you thought it was chilly when you woke up this morning, you weren't alone - many cities saw record low temperatures this morning. Here are just a few:
The NWS office also put together this map of some chilly temps this morning:
Once again, we advise you to pack a light jacket if you're headed out late on Saturday. Then things finally get warmer after that.
Notice those 80s back in the forecast! Those are looking pretty nice right about now (unless you're a fan of the cooler weather). Either way, things aren't too bad for this weekend - so make sure you get a chance to enjoy it!
You'll likely want to bring a light jacket along with your lawn chairs, because by the end of the last concert it is going to be chilly! At 10pm you can expect lower 60s already, and as of now I'm forecasting a low of 51 for early Saturday morning, so by the time you head home it may be in the 50s already.
So as you head to jazz fest this weekend or are just out late this weekend, you may need some long sleeves to help keep you warm.
Notice the little icon at the bottom that says, "Great!" That about sums up tonight's weather. Unless you get cold easily you will likely be a fan of tonight's weather.
Look at those upper 60s in NE South Dakota! While that isn't out of the question - it seems like we will be at least 2 or 3 degrees warmer for most of us than this particular computer model would indicate. Still, though, lower 70s in mid-July? Seems likely.