Latest Duluth Area Text Forecast Discussion product from NWS:
408
FXUS63 KDLH 182341
AFDDLH
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
641 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Another round of light precipitation is forecast this
afternoon and tonight. Precip is expected to start as rain
before changing to snow. There may be a period of light
freezing rain over portions of northwest Wisconsin tonight.
- Warming conditions begin today with daytime highs rising above
freezing into the 40s and 50s through the rest of the week.
- A better organized clipper will move through the region over
the weekend. Mixed precipitation is forecast.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 212 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026
The sun is peeking out this afternoon in areas roughly south of
highway 2. Those areas have reached the mid to upper 30s, with
a few spots hitting into 40s, which foreshadows the next few
days. In the meantime, a passing system, albeit weak, brings
another round of light precipitation. While most areas will
remain dry, we do expect light drizzle to freezing drizzle
tonight, particularly across northwest Wisconsin. Hayward to
Park Falls has ~40 chance of seeing light ice accumulation of
0.01", leading to a light glaze of ice on untreated roads,
bridges, and sidewalks. Precipitation will transition to a light
mix of light rain and snow before tapering off overnight.
As we move into Thursday and Friday, and as hinted above, much
warmer air will overspread our cold snowpack, bringing the
chance for fog in the morning. The fog may be stubborn to clear
out entirely, but where the sun does break through, temperatures
will surge into the 40s for our southern zones. Temperatures
become complicated due to the snow pack, warm air, and fog. If
the fog develops and persists, temperatures may be 10 degrees
cooler than forecast for Friday (currently forecasted to be our
warmest day in the forecast period). Thursday night a shortwave
will clip the forecast area to the north, bringing the potential
for light snow to areas north of Grand Marais.
Looking ahead to the weekend: on Saturday, models still vary as
to the placement of the incoming system, but it still looks to
bring widespread precipitation. It`s still too early to say how
much precipitation: The warmer temperatures will remain in
place at the start which will result in a mix of rain and snow.
If precipitation begins Saturday and changes to snow Saturday
night, look for higher totals. If precipitation doesn`t arrive
until Sunday morning, lower totals are likely. Behind this
system, a dry and warmer airmass will settle in for the early
part of next week.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 641 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026
Off and on precipitation, mainly rain and some spotty drizzle,
to start the evening. As temperatures fall below freezing for
later this evening, expect some snow and even freezing drizzle
to develop for DLH and primarily HYR/northwest Wisconsin. The
freezing drizzle at HYR and in northwest Wisconsin may linger
into early Thursday morning. Expect conditions to deteriorate to
IFR to potentially LIFR for tonight, especially the southern
terminals. Also expect fog development tonight into The
freezing d A second round of wintry precipitation arrives late
this afternoon into tonight, bringing conditions back down to
IFR and potentially LIFR. Fog is expected to form in the
morning at most terminals tonight into Thursday morning.
&&
.MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/...
Issued at 1040 AM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026
Winds veer westerly this morning. Small Craft Advisory remains
in effect for Grand Marais to Grand Portage. Waves will subside
to 1 to 3 feet by this afternoon. The next period of hazardous
conditions will develop this weekend as a more organized low
pressure system moves through the region.
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...LR
AVIATION...Rothstein
MARINE...LR
NWS DLH Office Area Forecast Discussion
