Latest Duluth Area Text Forecast Discussion product from NWS:
385
FXUS63 KDLH 092137
AFDDLH
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
337 PM CST Fri Jan 9 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Light snow spreads across the Northland tonight with most
areas seeing a dusting to 2 inches of accumulation.
- Heavier lake effect snow will impact the South Shore on
Saturday with 4 to 6 inches possible in northern Iron County.
- A brief warmup above freezing arrives early next week before
another round of mixed precipitation moves through.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 319 PM CST Fri Jan 9 2026
A clipper system currently sliding east from Manitoba will
bring a return of winter weather to the Northland starting this
evening. Light snow is expected to fight dry air at the surface
before finally reaching the surface later on. While the exact
area where snow will onset is uncertain, snow could develop as
far west as the Brainerd Lakes area before spreading across much
of northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. Most of
the region will see light, fluffy accumulations generally under
an inch for Minnesota and between a trace and two inches for
Wisconsin. However, areas along the far North Shore may see
localized totals up to three inches due to southerly winds
providing orographic enhancement against the higher terrain
early Saturday morning. A brief dry slot will move through from
the Brainerd Lakes to the I-35 corridor reaching into the
Borderlands late tonight, providing a short break in the
snowfall before a secondary backdoor cold front arrives.
This second push of cold air from the north on Saturday morning
will trigger additional light snow, primarily focused over the
Minnesota Arrowhead and northwest Wisconsin. Flurries could also
linger over north central Minnesota. As winds shift to the
northwest and pull colder air over the relatively warmer waters
of Lake Superior, lake effect snow processes will ramp up along
the South Shore. Northern Iron and northeastern Ashland counties
are the primary targets for this activity through Saturday
night, where an additional four to five inches of snow could
fall. Total accumulations in northern Iron County may reach six
inches, and a Winter Weather Advisory is being considered for
that area for Saturday afternoon and evening. A gravity
wave/lake effect band is also expected over the Bayfield
Peninsula Saturday, though additional accumulations are only up
to 2 inches. Gusty northwest winds up to 25 mph will persist
through Saturday evening even after the snow ends, leading to
localized blowing snow.
A brief period of seasonable temperatures in the 20s is expected
for the remainder of the weekend. This quiet stretch will be
short-lived as a warmer air mass moves back into the Great Lakes
by Monday. High temperatures are forecast to climb above the
freezing mark, which will set the stage for messy wintry mix as
another low pressure system moves through the region early next
week. Models show that rain and snow will be the primary
precipitation types, but will have to be monitored with future
runs. Following that system, another quick blast of cold air is
anticipated ahead of yet another clipper system toward the end
of the work week.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1110 AM CST Fri Jan 9 2026
Low stratus from this morning is clearing at an accelerated
rate, leading to VFR conditions. This will be short lived as
conditions deteriorate with a small clipper bringing snow
showers this evening into tomorrow. Ceilings should mainly
remain at MVFR, but IFR conditions are possible where snow
showers fall. MVFR ceilings will linger after the system passes
into Saturday afternoon.
&&
.MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/...
Issued at 319 PM CST Fri Jan 9 2026
A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for all nearshore waters
starting Saturday afternoon and continuing into Sunday morning.
North to northwest winds will gust between 25 and 30 knots, with
waves building to 3 to 5 feet, especially along the South Shore
and near the Apostle Islands. There is a 20 to 40 percent
chance of gale force gusts up to 35 knots from Grand Marais to
Grand Portage Saturday night.
For the open water discussion, refer to the NWS Marquette Area
Forecast Discussion at weather.gov/mqt.
&&
.DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...None.
WI...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 4 PM Saturday to 4 AM CST Sunday for
LSZ121-141>147.
Small Craft Advisory from 4 PM Saturday to 10 AM CST Sunday
for LSZ140-148-150.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...KML
AVIATION...KML
MARINE...KML
NWS DLH Office Area Forecast Discussion
