Latest Duluth Area Text Forecast Discussion product from NWS:
829
FXUS63 KDLH 221143
AFDDLH
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
543 AM CST Thu Jan 22 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Extremely dangerous cold temperatures are expected through the
weekend, with multiple days with temperatures below zero and
wind chills as low as 40 to 60 degrees below zero.
- Flurries and scattered snow showers are possible today. Little
to no accumulation expected.
- Light lake effect snow and clouds may persist along the South
Shore into the weekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 316 AM CST Thu Jan 22 2026
Today`s Weather:
The cold air is starting to spill into the region this morning,
but even with how cold it is right now and will be through noon
today, the worst will be yet to come this afternoon and tonight.
For now, temperatures have fallen into the single digits and
teens below zero in northeast Minnesota with wind chills as low
as -30 in the Borderlands. This is about on track with what
we`ve been forecasting, and additional cooling is expected over
the next few hours. The only areas that might be slightly
underachieving would be down towards the Brainerd Lakes to I-35
corridor with wind chills only into the teens right now, but
there too, it should just keep getting colder. We have therefore
retained all Extreme Cold Warnings and Cold Weather Advisories
as they have previously been issued.
We also have some areas of clouds and embedded flurries or light
snow showers moving into northeast Minnesota from the west. This
is associated with some low-level instability with the cold air
advection, a weak surface low, and coupled lift ahead of an
approaching upper-level trough. The main cold front that will
really usher in the coldest of the cold air will pass through
this morning. With all this, we may see the clouds and light
snow persist at least through the morning, but I wouldn`t be
surprised if some afternoon flurries or light snow showers
persist with low-level instability increasing behind the cold
front. There won`t be much moisture to work with, so expect just
a dusting for some places.
Extreme Cold this Afternoon through Friday Morning:
The main story this afternoon will definitely be the quick
arrival of extreme cold. The pressure gradient is expected to
tighten up and winds will strengthen in tandem with the strong
cold air advection. We should not see really any temperature
recovery today. Temperatures may plateau for a bit this morning,
but expect temperatures to tumble like a rock this afternoon. We
should see the first arrival of -40 wind chills in the early to
mid afternoon in northeast Minnesota. Extreme Cold Warnings go
into effect at 2 PM for all Minnesota counties and 6 PM for all
Wisconsin counties.
For tonight, confidence is about as high as it can get that we
will see widespread wind chills at or below -40. The core of the
arctic blast will be over us through the night and into Friday
morning, and along with that will be a fairly tight pressure
gradient that will keep wind speeds and gusts around 15-25 mph
(to 30 mph along the North Shore). We have anywhere from 40-80%
chance of temperatures falling below -25 tonight regionwide,
and much of northeast Minnesota and perhaps a few interior
places in northwest Wisconsin may fall to around -30 (30-60%
chance). All-in-all, just a brutal night out there, and the wind
chills of -40 or below are expected to stick around well into
the morning hours. An Extreme Cold Warning is in effect from 2
PM this afternoon through noon Friday for the entire region.
Extreme Cold Friday Afternoon through Saturday:
Expect wind chills to improve a bit Friday afternoon (though
only rising to around -25 to -35 or so). Winds remain on the
breezy side through the afternoon, then as high pressure moves
in from the west-northwest, winds are expected to drop pretty
quickly after sunset. We will still be within the core of the
arctic air, but there is still quite a bit of uncertainty about
how cold wind chills will actually fall Friday night into
Saturday morning. As high pressure passes just south of the
Northland, we may retain some light winds, and it doesn`t take
much wind to really drop wind chills. But also possible is that
winds may become nearly calm. In that case, we would still
expect some very cold overnight temperatures, in fact likely
colder than what we`re expecting tonight since this will be a
much better radiational cooling night. I`ve kept lows around NBM
25th percentile, as this seems like a realistic middle-ground of
the worst case scenario (a true radiational cooling night with
calm winds, allowing air temperatures to fall into the -40s in
the usual cold spots) to a slightly warmer solution where we
could retain some winds and perhaps some areas of low clouds. At
this time, we`re hovering around criteria for Extreme Cold
Warning versus Cold Weather Advisory, so for now, we will retain
the Extreme Cold Watch. The most likely areas to see either air
temperatures or wind chills fall to that -40 or below range
would be parts of the North and South Shores where winds should
be a bit higher and possibly local interior areas in northeast
Minnesota. We have high confidence that it will be another
brutally cold night, but exactly how cold still remains a bit in
question.
South Shore Lake-Effect Snow:
With all the cold air in place and northwest winds, we can
expect continuous, but generally light lake-effect clouds and
snow along the South Shore. With such cold and dry air, there
shouldn`t be much moisture available to support any heavy lake-
effect, but through the weekend, the usual lake-effect hot spots
may pick up ~1-3 inches of snow in total through around Friday
evening. As winds switch to southwesterly Friday night, lake-
effect should end (except maybe the outer Apostle Islands).
Saturday Afternoon and Beyond:
We`re not getting rid of the cold anytime soon. We should see
another night of lows falling into the teens and 20s below zero
Saturday night. However, winds are looking to be rather light,
so we will be flirting with the possibility of some Cold Weather
Advisories for some places and perhaps some places maybe not
requiring headlines at all.
Sunday night may be similarly cold as Saturday night, but
perhaps slightly more windy. Some cold headlines can`t be ruled
out.
We may see some weak clipper activity bringing in some light
snow early next week, but generally we`re going to remain with a
cold northwest flow pattern that will keep us with below normal
temperatures (though perhaps warming up enough to keep us out of
headline-worthy cold weather).
&&
.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 543 AM CST Thu Jan 22 2026
Scattered snow showers and patchy MVFR ceilings are in the
vicinity of all terminals except INL at this hour. A cold front
is expected to pass through early this morning, and after it
does, low-level instability is expected to increase. Short-range
models are strongly hinting at MVFR to IFR low stratus
developing around midday, affecting most terminals for at least
a few hours. Some reduced visibilities to MVFR may be possible
with some light snow showers as well. There is some uncertainty
about overall coverage of low stratus that may develop later
this morning. It`s possible that terminals may see several in-
and-out periods of low clouds and potentially brief VFR
conditions in-between cloud streets. Clouds are generally
expected to become scattered in the late afternoon and evening,
leading to VFR conditions overnight. Expect winds from the
northwest to increase in speed this morning and remain gusty
through the period.
&&
.MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/...
Issued at 316 AM CST Thu Jan 22 2026
A strong cold front will move through today and bring extremely
cold air behind it tonight and into this weekend. Expect strong
winds gusting 20 to 30 kt from the northwest starting this
morning and persisting through Friday afternoon. Heavy Freezing
Spray is expected along the South Shore as well, especially
tonight. Wave heights will rise to around 8 ft in the outer
Apostles later this afternoon and tonight as well. As high
pressure moves in Friday night, winds and waves are expected to
decrease substantially. The next chance for winds that may be
hazardous for small craft may not arrive again until Monday.
For the open water discussion, refer to the NWS Marquette Area
Forecast Discussion at weather.gov/mqt.
&&
.DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...Cold Weather Advisory until 2 PM CST this afternoon for
MNZ018>021-025-026-033>037.
Extreme Cold Warning from 2 PM this afternoon to noon CST
Friday for MNZ018>021-025-026-033>038.
Extreme Cold Watch from Friday afternoon through Saturday
morning for MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038.
Extreme Cold Warning until noon CST Friday for MNZ010>012.
WI...Extreme Cold Watch from Friday afternoon through Saturday
morning for WIZ001>004-006>009.
Extreme Cold Warning from 6 PM this evening to noon CST Friday
for WIZ001>004-006>009.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM CST Friday for LSZ140>148-150.
Cold Weather Advisory until 2 PM CST this afternoon for LSZ142.
Extreme Cold Warning from 2 PM this afternoon to noon CST
Friday for LSZ142.
Extreme Cold Watch from Friday afternoon through Saturday
morning for LSZ142.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 AM
CST Friday for LSZ145>147.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning until 10 AM CST Friday for LSZ150.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...JDS
AVIATION...JDS
MARINE...JDS
NWS DLH Office Area Forecast Discussion
