Latest Duluth Area Text Forecast Discussion product from NWS:
931
FXUS63 KDLH 301749
AFDDLH
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
1149 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Very cold wind chills between 25 and 35 below zero continue
through late morning across all of northern Minnesota.
- Lake effect snow persists along the South Shore today with
additional accumulations of 1 to 2 inches through tonight.
- A quick moving clipper system brings 1 to 2 inches of
widespread light snow to the Northland Saturday night and
Sunday.
- Temperatures begin a gradual warming trend this weekend with
highs returning to the 20s and maybe low 30s next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 230 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026
A very cold arctic air mass remains in place today. High
pressure building in from the west is allowing for mostly clear
skies over inland Minnesota, but the very cold air combined with
a light northerly breeze is producing dangerous wind chills.
Expect these values to range from 25 to 35 below zero through
mid-morning today. The ongoing Cold Weather Advisory remains in
effect until 11 AM for these conditions. Daytime highs will
struggle to climb out of the single digits above zero despite
the sunshine.
While inland areas remain dry, north-northeasterly onshore flow
is creating lake effect snow streamers for Douglas and Bayfield
counties this morning, and more light widespread showers for
Ashland and Iron Counties. Early this morning, focus remains on
far northern Douglas and Bayfield counties where 1 to 2 inches
of snow may accumulate from that streamer. As winds shift
slightly more northerly during the daytime hours today, the
focus for this lake effect will transition toward northern Iron
and eastern Ashland counties. An additional inch or two is
expected in these locations through this evening before the lake
effect activity tapers off late tonight...last in typical
snowbelt areas of northern Iron County.
A shift in the weather pattern begins Saturday as winds turn
to the southwest. This will start a warming trend, with
Saturday highs reaching the upper teens and low 20s under sunny
skies. Clouds will slowly increase from west to east Saturday
night ahead of a clipper system moving in from the Plains. This
system will bring a period of light snow to the entire region
starting around midnight Saturday in north-central Minnesota.
The clipper moves into northwest Wisconsin then towards Sunday
daylight morning hours. Expect a widespread 1 to 2 inches of
fresh snow in northern Minnesota and closer to 0.5 to 1.5 inches
for northwest Wisconsin. These widespread conditions may cause
slippery travel conditions and minor drifting in open areas of
northern Minnesota where south winds will gust up to 20 mph
early Sunday morning and decrease through the daytime.
Looking ahead to next week, temperatures will continue to moderate
toward or even slightly above seasonal averages. Highs on
Monday and Tuesday will generally be in the 20s. Another weak
disturbance may clip the southern half of the region Tuesday
into Wednesday, potentially bringing a light dusting of snow
mainly south of the Iron Range. By the end of the week, there is
a possibility for temperatures to reach or exceed the freezing
mark, though this remains dependent on the exact track of the
jet stream and a clipper dropping in from the northwest Thursday
somewhere in the Upper Midwest (currently favored for bringing
precipitation to the Northland...but highly contingent on that
upper-air track and easily could change over the coming days).
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1148 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026
A mix of VFR and MVFR conditions will prevail through tonight.
MVFR ceilings are most likely along the South Shore and near the
International Border. Periods of IFR visibility due to
mist/haze are possible at INL and HIB early Saturday morning.
Light north winds today will become calm tonight before turning
southerly Saturday morning.
&&
.MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/...
Issued at 233 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026
A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for ice free areas of
the South Shore and the northern tip of the Arrowhead as north
winds gust to 25 knots. Waves of 3 to 5 feet along the South
Shore will subside later this morning. Heavy freezing spray is
possible in the Outer Apostle Islands this morning. Winds turn
southwest Saturday night with gusts to 30 knots possible near
Grand Portage.
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...NLy
AVIATION...Wolfe
MARINE...NLy