By Albert Lea Tribune and Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — Near record breaking heat Tuesday gave way today to more autumn-like temperatures in Minnesota.

The National Weather Service says the 95 degree reading at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Tuesday was one degree shy of the record set in 1931. The heat and gusty winds created a potential fire hazard in much of the state.

In Albert Lea, the temperature reached 91 around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Albert Lea Municipal Airport, three degrees short of the record high of 94 set in 1994. By 7 a.m. today, the air temperature was down to 57 degrees, a drop of 34 degrees.

Such swings are more common in April, as Old Man Winter battles the spring thaw, but they do occur as fall approaches, too.

Firefighters continue to battle a blaze in northern Minnesota east of Red Lake. Minnesota Interagency Fire Center spokeswoman Jean Goad said the fire has burned about 175 acres so far. Goad expected the fire to be under control in the next several days.

Temperatures won’t get much above 70 degrees the rest of the work week.