Latest Duluth Area Text Forecast Discussion product from NWS:
717
FXUS63 KDLH 241750
AFDDLH
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
1250 PM CDT Tue Mar 24 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Light precipitation ends this morning, with drier air arriving
for this afternoon.
- Light wintry mix of rain & snow possible tonight through
Wednesday morning across northern & central Minnesota, with
more widespread light precipitation for all of the Northland
late Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
- Warmer and dry for the weekend and early next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 234 AM CDT Tue Mar 24 2026
A weak shortwave is moving over the Borderlands this morning, with
a weak cold front pushing southward into the Northland. Light
snow/mixed precipitation showers continue across portions of the
Arrowhead, but any additional accumulations will be light. Also,
cannot rule out flurries or sprinkles where there is stratus. As
the weak cold front drops southward this morning, winds turn to
the north and drier air arrives. There should be good mixing
this afternoon up to 900-800mb, where a significant dry layer
exists. This will drop dewpoints down into the teens to mid 20s.
With lighter winds aloft, wind gusts should remain below 20mph.
The weak front lifts back to the north quickly tonight into
Wednesday, in response to a low organizing over the northern
Rockies and disturbances tripping over the ridge axis stretching
northward over the western CONUS. Low level and mid level jets
increase over a thermal gradient just to our north. Expect a
zone of light precipitation stretching west to east across
portions of the BWCA and Arrowhead late tonight into Wednesday
morning. A warm layer around 850mb will allow for some melting
and a wintry mix at the surface. Snowfall amounts will be light,
less than 1 inch, but cannot rule out a light glaze of ice
early Wednesday morning from INL to CKC.
This boundary remains along the Canadian border through the day
Wednesday, with continued low level advection. This will push
temperatures into the low 60s from Brainerd to Hayward, about
10-20 degrees above normal. Would not be surprised to see a 30
degree spread Wednesday afternoon, from the warm air over the
Brainerd Lakes to the cooler air at the tip of the Arrowhead.
The surface low over the Rockies crosses the northern Plains
Wednesday night, and expect widespread light precipitation
across the area through Thursday morning. Will need to keep an
eye on temperature profiles, and the potential for freezing rain
along the US-61 corridor along the North Shore, but otherwise,
precipitation should start as mostly rain with a transition to
snow as the system exits to the east Thursday morning.
Ridging expands across much of the CONUS for the end of the
week. This will allow for a longer period of dry conditions for
the Northland through early next week. Temperatures will be
slightly below normal for Thursday and Friday, but moderate for
the weekend into next week. Can expect highs back into the
upper 50s by Sunday in the southwest to around 40 degrees at the
tip of the Arrowhead.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1250 PM CDT Tue Mar 24 2026
VFR conditions prevail across the Northland early this
afternoon. A clipper will move along the International Border
tonight and bring low precipitation chances to INL after 09z.
There looks to be a layer of warmer air aloft which may lead to
some freezing rain along with snow. MVFR ceilings and
visibilities are expected with this activity with MVFR ceilings
lingering through the remainder of the morning. VFR conditions
are expected to prevail across the remaining terminals. Winds
will remain under 10 knots through the period, but will start
from the east and turn more southeasterly tonight.
&&
.MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/...
Issued at 234 AM CDT Tue Mar 24 2026
Winds shift to northerly this morning, and continue to decrease.
Winds quickly increase from the east this afternoon and turn to
the northeast Wednesday, but should remain below advisory
criteria. There may be a need for Small Craft Advisories
Thursday, particularly for the North Shore, as winds increase
from the north.
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...HA
AVIATION...BJH
MARINE...HA
NWS DLH Office Area Forecast Discussion
