Latest Duluth Area Text Forecast Discussion product from NWS:
102
FXUS63 KDLH 261141
AFDDLH
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
541 AM CST Mon Jan 26 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Dangerous cold persists this morning with wind chills ranging
from 30 to 45 below zero. An Extreme Cold Warning remains in
effect for parts of northeast Minnesota, with Cold Weather
Advisories elsewhere through noon.
- A fast-moving clipper system will bring gusty winds and a
quick dusting of light snow. Most locations will see less than
an inch of accumulation.
- Very little snow chances expected for the next week and
temperatures are expected to gradually warm up back to
climatological averages by the weekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 257 AM CST Mon Jan 26 2026
Bitterly cold air remains entrenched across the Northland early
this morning, necessitating the continuation of Extreme Cold
Warnings and Cold Weather Advisories until noon. Current wind
chills at this hour range from the 20s below in northwest
Wisconsin to 30s to near 40 below in northeast Minnesota. Expect
a bit more cooling yet this morning, leading to some extreme
cold wind chills to 45 below for parts of northeast Minnesota.
If you are venturing out early, frostbite can occur on exposed
skin in as little as 10 minutes, so extra layers are essential.
Winds will begin to turn southwesterly and increase through the
morning hours ahead of an approaching cold front and clipper
system. This shift will actually help temperatures recover into
the single digits above zero later today, feeling comparatively
warmer than the weekend, although the gusty winds will keep it
feeling brisk. By this afternoon, a clipper system and
associated cold front will dive across the region. This should
be a quick-hitting feature with limited moisture to work with.
Expect a period of light snow or flurries to move from northwest
to southeast during the late afternoon and evening hours.
Accumulations will be minor, generally amounting to a dusting or
a few tenths of an inch. Localized amounts up to one inch are
possible, particularly in the Arrowhead or along the South
Shore, but this will be the exception rather than the rule.
Behind the front tonight, winds will switch around to the
northwest and remain blustery. While cold air will filter back
in, it will not be nearly as cold as the arctic outbreak we just
endured. Overnight lows will drop back below zero, but just the
single digits.
The remainder of the work week looks relatively quiet. There is
potential for lingering light lake-effect snow showers along
the South Shore in the wake of the system and later on this
week, but dry air should limit intensity. There are virtually no
other snow chances for the next week except maybe some hints of
clipper activity possible sometime over the weekend. A gradual
warming trend is on the horizon, with temperatures likely to
moderate closer to seasonal averages by the weekend.
&&
.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 541 AM CST Mon Jan 26 2026
The forecast is mostly on track from the previous update. Wind
direction has been a bit more close to due south, however, and
that may continue for a few hours this morning before becoming
more southwesterly ahead of the cold front later this afternoon.
Still expecting a few hours of LLWS this morning and afternoon
from northwest to southeast, affecting all terminals. There is a
little uncertainty about how low visibility may fall in the
light snow this afternoon, as most of the snow may track a bit
northeast of the terminals. MVFR visibilities are still
expected, but confidence isn`t high about whether or not
visibilities will fall much below 4 or 5 SM. If it does, it will
probably be for about an hour or so at each terminal this
afternoon. BRD may miss out on most of the snow and could
possibly retain VFR visibility this afternoon. After the main
band of snow passes through, lingering light snow showers or
flurries will remain possible, though with visibility most
likely being VFR. Blustery southwest winds are expected later
this morning, becoming northwesterly this afternoon into
tonight.
&&
.MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/...
Issued at 257 AM CST Mon Jan 26 2026
Conditions will deteriorate today after a quick break early this
morning. Southwesterly winds ramp up this morning, leading to
gales by late afternoon and evening along the North Shore from
Grand Marais to Grand Portage, and later for the Outer Apostle
Islands through this evening. Heavy freezing spray is likely for
some places as these strong winds interact with the frigid air
mass and open water. Winds switch to northwesterly this evening,
maintaining hazardous conditions for small craft through Tuesday
morning. Of note, there is quite a bit of ice built up along the
South Shore at this time. Especially from Sand Bay to Bayfield,
thick ice cover, as observed by satellite, may not warrant a
need for any headlines. Therefore, a Small Craft Advisory was
not issued for that area at this time despite gusty winds
expected.
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 noon CST today for MNZ012-020-021-
025-033>038.
Extreme Cold Warning until noon CST today for MNZ010-011-018-
019-026.
WI...Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST today for WIZ001>004-
006>009.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM this morning to 3 PM CST this
afternoon for LSZ140-150.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning from 9 AM this morning to 10 PM
CST this evening for LSZ140>143-146.
Gale Warning from 3 PM this afternoon to 10 PM CST this
evening for LSZ140-150.
Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM this morning to 10 AM CST
Tuesday for LSZ141>146-148.
Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST today for LSZ142.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning from 9 AM this morning to 10 AM
CST Tuesday for LSZ150.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...JDS
AVIATION...JDS
MARINE...JDS
NWS DLH Office Area Forecast Discussion
