Latest Duluth Area Text Forecast Discussion product from NWS:
446
FXUS63 KDLH 312048
AFDDLH
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
248 PM CST Wed Dec 31 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 35 to 40 degrees below
zero are expected tonight and early Thursday morning across
the Northland.
- Strong northwest winds will gust up to 45 mph
through tonight along the North Shore, particularly in
southern Cook County where a Wind Advisory is in effect.
- Light snow showers and flurries will move through the region
again on New Years Day morning with total accumulations
generally under one inch.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 224 PM CST Wed Dec 31 2025
A cold air mass is currently sinking south into the Northland,
leading to rapidly falling temperatures this afternoon. Strong
northwest winds are accompanying this cold air advection, with
particularly strong gusts expected along the North Shore.
Increasing winds are being driven by a tightening pressure
gradient between a low pressure system over Canada and high
pressure building into the Northern Plains. In southern Cook
County, winds may reach 45 mph due to the cold air rushing down
the local terrain. A Wind Advisory remains in effect for this
area through tonight.
As we move into New Years Eve festivities, the combination of
arctic air and persistent winds will create dangerously cold
conditions. Wind chill values are expected to drop as low as 35
to 40 degrees below zero across northern Minnesota and the
Arrowhead region. Cold Weather Advisories are in effect for our
northern counties and the Arrowhead. It is vital that those
celebrating outdoors wear appropriate layered clothing and
ensure that everyone has a safe plan to get home, as frostbite
can occur on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes under these
conditions.
The current round of light snow is exiting the region this
afternoon, though lake effect snow showers will persist along
the South Shore of Lake Superior into late this evening.
Additional snow accumulations in the snow belts of northern
Wisconsin will be less than an inch, while most other areas
remain dry tonight. On New Years Day morning, a quick-moving
clipper system will bring another shot of light snow to the
Northland. While forcing is relatively weak, a dusting to an
inch of accumulation is possible through Thursday afternoon
before the system exits.
High pressure will briefly take hold on Friday, providing a
break in the active weather and keeping the area precipitation-
free. However, the region remains in a northwest flow pattern,
which will keep a train of clipper systems moving through into
the weekend. Another round of light snow is expected Friday
night into Saturday with minimal accumulation. Looking further
ahead, a more robust warming trend begins early next week as a
stronger weather system approaches, potentially bringing heavier
precipitation to the region by Monday or Tuesday.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1127 AM CST Wed Dec 31 2025
As snow moves out of the area, MVFR and IFR conditions are
slowly lifting. Some snow showers linger with horizontal
convective rolls throughout northeastern Minnesota, which could
lead to some brief declines in conditions through the mid
afternoon, as laid out with PROB30s for each TAF. Increased
winds this afternoon will slowly decrease overnight. Another
shot of light snow will affect mainly BRD late tonight and early
Thursday, but could affect HIB, HYR, and DLH as well, though
confidence is much lower for them. Chances for snow at HIB and
HYR are around 30%, so went with PROB30s for HIB and HYR for
now.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 224 PM CST Wed Dec 31 2025
A Gale Warning is in effect for the North Shore from Silver Bay
to Grand Portage through Thursday morning for northwest gusts
up to 45 knots from cold air rushing down terrain along the
North Shore tonight. Elsewhere, Small Craft Advisories are in
effect for northwest winds of 15 to 25 knots and gusts to 30
knots. Waves will generally range from 1 to 4 feet, with higher
waves up to 6 feet in the Outer Apostle Islands. Heavy freezing
spray is possible this evening with the greatest wind gusts
along the North Shore and around the Apostle Islands.
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 from midnight tonight to 10 AM CST
Thursday for MNZ010>012-019>021.
Wind Advisory until 6 AM CST Thursday for MNZ021.
WI...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM CST Thursday for LSZ121-
143>148.
Gale Warning until 10 AM CST Thursday for LSZ140>142.
Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 10 AM CST
Thursday for LSZ142.
Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM CST Friday for LSZ150.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...KML
AVIATION...KML
MARINE...KML
NWS DLH Office Area Forecast Discussion
