Latest Duluth Area Text Forecast Discussion product from NWS:
388
FXUS63 KDLH 302328
AFDDLH
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
528 PM CST Fri Jan 30 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Lingering lake effect snow along the South Shore, particularly
near Ashland and Iron counties, will diminish later tonight.
- Cold temperatures return tonight with lows dropping well
below zero, though lighter winds will limit severe wind
chills.
- A quick-moving weather system brings widespread light snow
Saturday night into Sunday, likely resulting in slippery roads
for the second half of the weekend.
- A warming trend begins Saturday, with high temperatures
bounding into the 20s and possibly 30s heading into next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 157 PM CST Fri Jan 30 2026
This afternoon temperatures have climbed above zero across the
Northland with abundant sunshine breaking out as high pressure
builds in from the west. Northerly winds continue to generate
lake effect snow showers along the South Shore of Lake Superior.
These snow bands are currently impacting areas from Ashland
into Iron County, where an additional inch or so of fluff is
possible before the activity tapers off and shifts east later
tonight.
Heading into the overnight hours, the high pressure center moves
overhead. This will cause winds to go calm for many inland
locations. Combined with clear skies, this sets the stage for
strong radiational cooling. Expect overnight lows to plummet
into the teens and twenties below zero away from the lake.
Fortunately, the lack of wind means we do not expect widespread
wind chill values to reach advisory criteria, but it will still
be cold for anyone outdoors for extended periods. The I-Falls
area will flirt with -25F wind chills. Also wanted to mention
that forecast guidance suggests some potential for fog which I
normally would have discounted except that it occurred last
night even in the negative teens.
Saturday marks a shift in our weather pattern. As the high moves
off to our east, winds will turn to the southwest. This flow
brings warmer air back into the region. Temperatures will warm
into the upper teens to near 20 degrees by the afternoon under
mostly sunny skies. Clouds will begin to increase from the west
late in the day ahead of the next weather system.
Forecast guidance brings a clipper system in from the
Canadian Plains late Saturday night into Sunday. Snow will
likely begin in north-central Minnesota after midnight and
spread eastward across the Arrowhead and northwest Wisconsin
through Sunday morning. This does not look like a heavy snow
event, but it will be widespread. Most locations can expect a
fluffy 1 to 2 inches of accumulation. This timing suggests that
Sunday morning travel could be slippery. The snow will taper off
from west to east Sunday afternoon.
Looking ahead to next week, the arctic grip loosens significantly.
We expect a stretch of temperatures closer to normal and even
above normal with daily highs consistently in the 20s and
perhaps reaching the freezing mark later in the week. There is a
chance of another deep freeze depending on your model of choice
from Friday and beyond - either way it appears a strong
baroclinic zone will be in the area.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 528 PM CST Fri Jan 30 2026
Surface high pressure over the region with largely clear skies being
observed on satellite. Some lingering diurnal clouds over the
Arrowhead will eroded through this evening and the lake effect
clouds look to move out of HYR for a brief period this evening.
There is potential for some fog to develop later tonight but the
signal looks less impressive then the lat set of TAFs. HYR may still
see another go of MVFR ceilings from lake effect showers tomorrow
morning as low level winds shift to out of the northeast
&&
.MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/...
Issued at 157 PM CST Fri Jan 30 2026
Small Craft Advisories remain in effect for the North Shore
zones from Taconite Harbor to Grand Portage through this
evening. North winds in these areas may still gust up to 30
knots with waves lingering around 3 feet. Elsewhere, winds are
diminishing. Conditions improve tonight as high pressure moves
in. However, south-southwest winds ramp up quickly Saturday
night ahead of the next system, with gusts of 25 to 30 knots
likely returning to western Lake Superior, creating hazardous
conditions for small vessels again heading into Sunday.
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 until 10 PM CST this evening for LSZ140-
141.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...Wolfe
AVIATION...Britt
MARINE...Wolfe
NWS DLH Office Area Forecast Discussion
