Latest Duluth Area Text Forecast Discussion product from NWS:
858
FXUS63 KDLH 250549
AFDDLH
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
1249 AM CDT Wed Mar 25 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Dry this afternoon with low RH values.
- A light wintry mix is possible mainly north of the Iron Range
tonight with more widespread wintry mix chances for Wednesday
night into Thursday morning.
- Turning warmer and drier for the remainder of the week and
into the weekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 157 PM CDT Tue Mar 24 2026
Weak high pressure was in place across the Northland early this
afternoon in the wake of a cold front. This cold front extended
southwestward across southeastern Lake Superior, Upper Michigan,
northern Wisconsin and central Minnesota from an area of low
pressure just east of James Bay. There were some light radar
returns across central Minnesota in the vicinity of the front,
but with dry air in place near the surface, no precipitation was
reported. With that dry air in place, RH values this afternoon
will fall into the 25 to 35% range over much of the region with
some pockets of sub-25% values in northern Cass, Itasca and
southwestern Koochiching counties. Fortunately, winds will
remain light at around 10 mph or less.
Heading into tonight, the cold front to our south will lift back
north as a warm/stationary boundary as low pressure develops
across the Northern Plains/Northern Rockies in association with
upper level impulses cresting the ridge axis over the western
CONUS. A low level jet will bring a warm nose northward tonight
as well as an area of precipitation sets up along the
International Border. Most of this activity will be across the
Borderlands into the Arrowhead, but may reach as far south as
the Iron Range, the Twin Ports and far northern northwest
Wisconsin around daybreak. With that warm nose aloft, a wintry
mix of rain, snow, freezing rain, and mix will all be possible.
Fortunately, QPF is minimal along and south of the Iron Range,
so any impacts are expected to be minimal. A light glaze of ice
will be possible from International Falls to Grand Marais by
sunrise with perhaps a dusting of snowfall in those same areas.
The frontal boundary will remain along/north of the
International Border for tomorrow with warm southerly flow in
place across the Northland. This will lead to highs reaching
into the 50s and lower 60s in most areas with 40s in the
Arrowhead and near Lake Superior. Low pressure will move along
the front through the day and then drag it southward Wednesday
night as a cold front. This will lead to a more widespread round
of wintry mix for Wednesday night into Thursday morning. This
round looks to be mainly rain at the start with a transition
over the snow shortly before precipitation ends Thursday.
Temperature profiles along the North Shore may lead to more in
the way of freezing rain. There is the potential for up to a
tenth of an inch of accumulation of ice along the North Shore
into the Arrowhead.
An extended dry period is then expected for the remainder of the
week and into the weekend as surface high pressure builds in.
Temperatures will only be in the 30s and 40s on Thursday and
Friday before warming through the weekend reaching the 50s and
60s over much of the area by Sunday with 40s in the Arrowhead.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1241 AM CDT Wed Mar 25 2026
A passing weather system will bring a low chance of light
precipitation (a wintry mix) from INL to CKC overnight and
early Wednesday morning. Chances at INL are between 20-35%.
There is a significant dry layer just above the surface, and for
now will leave any mention of precipitation out the INL TAF.
Cigs will remain above 8kft for all terminals through Wednesday
morning, with southeast winds at 5-10kts.
Winds will turn to the south then southwest through the day
Wednesday, as the next system approaches the area. MVFR cigs
will spread into INL Wednesday evening, with light precipitation
arriving just beyond this TAF period.
&&
.MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/...
Issued at 157 PM CDT Tue Mar 24 2026
Easterly winds today will become northeasterly for Wednesday at
15 knots or less. Stronger northerly winds are expected for
Thursday with gusts to around 20 mph. There is a small chance
(20-30%) of winds reaching advisory criteria Thursday along
parts of the North Shore. Otherwise, no hazardous marine
conditions are expected.
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...None.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...BJH
AVIATION...HA
MARINE...BJH
NWS DLH Office Area Forecast Discussion
