Latest Duluth Area Text Forecast Discussion product from NWS:
243
FXUS63 KDLH 090007
AFDDLH
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
607 PM CST Thu Jan 8 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Lingering dense fog through the afternoon will continue to
reduce visibility for travelers near the Twin Ports and along
the North Shore.
- Heavy and wet snow is expected tonight across northwest
Wisconsin, leading to slushy and slippery road conditions.
- A second round of light, fluffy snow arrives Friday night and
continues Saturday morning with accumulations of one to three
inches.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 246 PM CST Thu Jan 8 2026
Dense fog remains the primary concern through the middle of the
afternoon, particularly for the higher terrain along the North
Shore and around the Twin Ports. Patchy fog may linger into the
evening hours wherever clouds remain. A fog advisory is in
effect for the Twin Ports until 4 PM. Fog is expected again
tonight where low ceilings affect the higher terrain along the
North Shore and where precipitation is expected tonight.
A Colorado low is moving northeast into the Midwest and will
cut across Wisconsin this evening with northwest Wisconsin on
the back side of the system. Precipitation will start as rain or
mixed precipitation where temperatures at the surface remain
above freezing. Cold air aloft will cool temperatures aloft and
then at the surface, causing precipitation to transition over to
all snow close to midnight. There will be an area of banded
snow with this system, which is largely supposed to stay to the
east of the Northland where the best frontogenesis and upper
level forcing is expected to lead to higher snowfall rates.
However, if there is even a slight shift to the west, eastern
Price and Iron counties could get their fair share of snow with
localized snow totals up to 4 inches possible. Otherwise, snow
totals will largely be from a trace to two inches from Ashland
to Rice Lake and eastward. Because temperatures throughout the
atmosphere will be very close to freezing, snow ratios will be
lower and the snowfall will be wet and heavy. Snow is expected
to come to an end by late Friday morning.
There will be a short break in precipitation for the rest of
Friday before we see yet another clipper affecting the Northland
overnight into Saturday. This closed surface low under a large
upper level trough will cause a band of snowfall to form over
the Iron Range down to western Wisconsin/eastern Minnesota. This
band will move east throughout the night. Unlike the Colorado
low, the snow with this system will be light and fluffy and is
not expected to amount to much as well. Most will see a trace
from western St. Louis county and down the I-35 corridor to up
to 3 inches eastward. Localized totals over 3 inches will most
likely occur along portions of the North Shore where orographic
enhancement is expected for a short time early Saturday morning
and in the South Shore snowbelt from lake effect snow on the
back side of the system. While a secondary cold front could
bring some scattered light snow to north-central Minnesota,
significant additional accumulation is not expected.
Temperatures will decrease after the system passes under a cold
air mass, and temperatures closer to normal will last Saturday
and Sunday before increasing early next week once again to near
freezing. We get back on the clipper train again throughout next
week, with multiple chances for light snow and/or mixed
precipitation.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 607 PM CST Thu Jan 8 2026
VFR conditions are in place across much of northeastern
Minnesota early this evening with generally LIFR conditions
across northwest Wisconsin as areas of fog and low stratus
prevail. Rain/ snow mix showers and then snow are expected to
spread into the HYR area over the next few hours. Snow is
expected to be heavy and wet in character. Fog in the KDLH area
has improved, but there is a chance it could return overnight
with very low dewpoint depressions. Confidence in fog is higher
at HIB and INL. Slow improvement will occur for Friday as the
system clears the region. VFR conditions are expected to return
for all by the early afternoon.
&&
.MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/...
Issued at 246 PM CST Thu Jan 8 2026
A dense fog advisory remains in effect for the South Shore of
western Lake Superior until 4 PM this afternoon. A small craft
advisory begins at 10 PM tonight for the North Shore and the
Outer Apostle Islands as north winds increase to 15 to 20 knots
with gusts to 25 knots. Waves will build to 1 to 3 feet. Winds
and waves will subside Friday afternoon but may reach gale force
along the far North Shore (20-40% chance) on Saturday as a
stronger clipper system passes.
For the open water discussion, refer to the NWS Marquette Area
Forecast Discussion at weather.gov/mqt.
&&
.DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...Dense Fog Advisory until 10 PM CST this evening for MNZ037.
WI...Dense Fog Advisory until 10 PM CST this evening for WIZ001.
MARINE...Dense Fog Advisory until 10 PM CST this evening for LSZ121-
144>148-150.
Small Craft Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM CST
Friday for LSZ140>142-150.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...KML
AVIATION...BJH
MARINE...KML
NWS DLH Office Area Forecast Discussion
