Event narrative (NOAA)
Several sources from surface observations, to local officials, media and health organizations indicated that the combination of heat and humidity, from a large dome of high pressure, allowed for excessive heat to cause significant problems for several days. Local observations around the county indicated heat index values rose above 105 degrees Monday, July 18th, and continued through Wednesday July 20th. Overnight heat index values averaged around 80 degrees with the highest heat index of 117 degrees Tuesday afternoon, July 19th. A 66 year old man in Benson collapsed when mowing his lawn, and later died at the local hospital.
Other notable excessive heat events in Minnesota
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.