(AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
A brutal heat wave in progress over the Central states since last weekend will break down over the Labor Day weekend, but there are more hot days to go in the late-summer pattern.
Temperatures will surge well into the 90s most days through Saturday. A few spots will reach the century mark.
The heat wave that has closed some schools and cancelled fall activities during the first week of the new semester will shrink toward the Southwest during the Labor Day weekend.
A cool front will sweep from northwest to southeast, from the northern Plains to the Midwest spanning Saturday night, Sunday and Labor Day.
In the wake of the front, temperatures will be shaved by 10 to 20 degrees from North Dakota to Michigan. Humidity levels will also be trimmed back.
By Labor Day, highs at Fargo, N.D., and Minneapolis are forecast to be in the 70s with highs projected to be in the 80s for Omaha, Neb., Kansas City, Mo., and Chicago.
Farther south and west over the region, the temperature drop will be more on the order of 5 to 10 degrees, but the edge will be taken off the heat.
From Oklahoma City to Dallas and Little Rock, Ark., there may be no appreciable change in temperature or humidity.
The push of cool air may not mean the end of summer heat just yet for the Central states. In addition to heat lingering over the southern Plains, temperatures are likely to rebound late next week and could surge well into the 90s again for a few days.
The heat late next week could again perhaps impact some school activities.
Long Range Weather Expert Paul Pastelok is still expecting a quick progression toward winter weather over the northern Plains and Midwest during the autumn.
"Despite the heat going on now and a resurgence next week, there is still the possibility of significant frost visiting portions of the northern Plains and part of the Midwest during the latter part of September," Pastelok stated on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013.
In the meantime, the heat wave will continue to drive energy bills higher as fans and air conditioners run full blast.
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For people participating in vigorous physical activity or attending sporting events, be sure to drink plenty of fluids.
Pools and lakes will continue to be hot spots for people trying to keep their cool and enjoy some late-summer fun and make up for lost time earlier in the season.
For folks on the road or spending time outdoors from the northern Plains to the Great Lakes, there will continue to be rounds of thunderstorms into the Labor Day weekend.
The storms are forecast to affect the Dakotas as well as part of the Midwest Friday to close out the week.
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