Latest Duluth Area Text Forecast Discussion product from NWS:
434
FXUS63 KDLH 141150
AFDDLH
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
550 AM CST Wed Jan 14 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Behind a strong cold front, isolated bands of light snow
continue shifting southward with gusty north winds,
particularly along the North Shore. Winds diminish this
morning, with lake effect showers over northwest Wisconsin
lingering into the afternoon.
- The next clipper arrives tomorrow morning, with widespread
snow chances (2-5" total accumulation) continuing into the
weekend.
- Colder temperatures settle back into the Northland this
weekend and through early next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 219 AM CST Wed Jan 14 2026
A cold front stretches through central Lake Michigan and across
southern WI and MN, with gusty northwest to north winds
advecting colder air southward into the Northland. Low stratus
and isolated snow bands continue to shift southward, with
clearing skies now across much of northeast Minnesota. Over
northwest Wisconsin, lake effect snow showers/flurries will
continue through sunrise, with better enhancement over Iron
County, that will last into the afternoon. Drier air arrives and
should cut off the snow machine through the afternoon.
Strong north winds will gradually diminish through the day, as
the gradient weakens with high pressure arriving from the west.
Gusts along the North Shore will remain elevated, and will need
to re-evaluate whether to extend the Wind Advisory (currently
valid through 6AM) later this morning. Those strong winds are
ushering in colder air, with highs in the single digits and
teens this afternoon. Wind chills this morning will drop below
zero areawide, with the coldest wind chills in the -15F to -25F
degree range over the north central and northeast Minnesota.
Surface ridging slides through the area quickly tonight, with
lows falling into the -10F to 5F degree range. Winds quickly
turn back to the south tomorrow morning, ahead of the next
clipper dropping from the Yukon southeastward through Canada. A
warm front, accompanied by a band of strong frontogenetical
forcing, will lift through the area, from west to east through
the morning. A quick 1-2 inches of snow is possible as the band
moves through the area. Behind this band, some drier air could
wrap around the south side of the approaching upper trough. This
could lead to drying aloft and a low chance of freezing rain
mixing in with snow across portions of the west. Little to no
ice accumulation is expected. As forcing increases under the
upper trough, additional snow is expected Thursday afternoon,
lingering into Friday across northwest WI. The trough closes off
over the Great Lakes and rotates over the region through
Saturday, keeping the Northland in deeper northerly flow.
Arctic air spreads southward behind the trough, with highs in
the single digits (or below zero across the far north) Friday
through the weekend. Another clipper with light snow chances
will provide a reinforcing shot of cold air Sunday night into
Monday, keeping temperatures below normal into next week.
&&
.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 531 AM CST Wed Jan 14 2026
Low stratus behind a cold front has pushed south of all forecast
terminals this morning, taking light snow showers with it.
Lingering clouds and lake effect snow showers will continue to
impact portions of northwest WI this morning, but will remain
east of HYR. VFR cigs will prevail through the remainder of the
forecast period.
Gusty northwest to north winds will gradually diminish through
the morning, as high pressure arrives from the west. Winds
became variable at 3-4kts this evening, with a turn to the
southwest late in the period as the next system approaches from
the west.
&&
.MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/...
Issued at 219 AM CST Wed Jan 14 2026
Gale Warnings remain in effect for all nearshore waters with
north winds gusting to 30-40 knots through this morning. Wave
heights reaching 4 to 8 feet remain possible along the South
Shore. A Heavy Freezing Spray Warning also remains in effect
this morning, as colder air interacts with the building waves.
Winds will diminish through the morning, but will remain
elevated and Small Craft Advisories will be needed this
afternoon and evening.
Another clipper moves through the area tomorrow and Friday, and
additional Small Craft Advisories will be needed as winds
increase from the southwest Thursday afternoon and turn to the
northwest Friday morning.
For the open water discussion, refer to the NWS Marquette Area
Forecast Discussion at weather.gov/mqt.
&&
.DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...Wind Advisory until 6 AM CST early this morning for MNZ020-021.
WI...Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM CST early this morning for
WIZ004.
MARINE...Gale Warning until noon CST today for LSZ121-140>148-150.
Wind Advisory until 6 AM CST early this morning for LSZ142.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning until noon CST today for
LSZ145>148-150.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...HA
AVIATION...HA
MARINE...HA
NWS DLH Office Area Forecast Discussion
