Latest Duluth Area Text Forecast Discussion product from NWS:
600
FXUS63 KDLH 121142
AFDDLH
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
542 AM CST Mon Jan 12 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Warm temperatures today and Tuesday.
- A clipper system will bring light mixed precipitation and snow
tonight through Tuesday and South Shore lake-effect snow
through Wednesday.
- Another potent clipper may bring a few inches of snow Thursday
into Friday.
- Colder weather with more snow chances possible this weekend
into early next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 252 AM CST Mon Jan 12 2026
Pretty quiet weather out there as we sit between clipper
systems. Expect some warm weather and sunshine today due to
broad ridging to our west and westerly flow bringing in a stream
of mild temperatures. Forecast highs are in the mid 30s
generally. It wouldn`t be entirely surprising to see some upper
30s or possibly even a few places reaching 40 with sunshine
likely remaining prevalent through the day.
Tonight, in comes another clipper. With the mild air mass in
place, expect some ptype issues. A warm nose aloft may bring a
bit of freezing rain later tonight into early Tuesday morning.
There`s some uncertainty on amounts for a few reasons. One is
the potential for some periods of dry air entrainment aloft,
which could limit precip rates for some places (though we might
see light freezing drizzle at the surface) early Tuesday
morning. The other factor is surface temperatures themselves,
and we can expect warm air advection before sunrise Tuesday
morning and many places may rise above freezing before the
morning commute, limiting impacts from any minor ice
accumulations that may happen overnight. So with that said,
there isn`t high enough confidence to issue any Winter Weather
Advisories at this time, but some places could have a bit of a
slippery Tuesday morning commute (most likely in the Arrowhead
where temperatures may be slowest to warm up).
As we go into Tuesday afternoon, we may see a bit of a dry slot
in precipitation before some wraparound snow showers work their
way in from the northwest as a cold front passes through
following the clipper`s departure. Temperatures should start to
cool off pretty quickly during the afternoon and evening.
There`s a small chance (~10%) that there could be some snow
squalls to deal with as the front passes through, but for the
most part, snowfall rates may not be intense enough to reach
that criteria. For most places, there shouldn`t be too much for
snow accumulation as lingering moisture Tuesday afternoon and
evening moves out of here pretty quickly. Blustery winds gusting
up to 30 mph could cause a bit of blowing snow and reduced
visibility though.
The lake-effect machine is expected to turn on Tuesday night
along the South Shore. Several inches of accumulating snow may
pile up mainly in northern Iron County through Wednesday
morning before dry air generally ends snow there as well
Wednesday afternoon.
There will be a pretty noticeable temperature change from highs
in the 30s Tuesday to highs in the teens Wednesday. Blustery
winds will be decreasing, but still gusting to 20 mph to keep
wind chills in the single digits through the afternoon.
Otherwise, quiet weather as high pressure moves through
Wednesday night.
Thursday should bring us a potent low pressure system with a
strong cold front passing through around Friday. Accumulating
snow, potentially advisory-level for several places, is looking
likely. Expect some blustery winds at times too, especially on
Friday, which should help blow the snow around a bit.
Much colder air moves in for the weekend, bringing us weather
that will certainly make it feel like January with highs in the
single digits above zero and lows below zero. This won`t be a
typical cold snap though, as it`s looking like we will retain
our active clipper pattern. We may see more snow chances at
times through the weekend and into early next week.
&&
.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 543 AM CST Mon Jan 12 2026
A little bit of LLWS at HYR for the next hour or two, then
expect VFR conditions through today and into this evening.
Breezy conditions today at DLH with downsloping northwest flow,
but generally light winds elsewhere. A clipper system will
arrive tonight, bringing mixed precipitation and some LLWS to
all terminals around or just after midnight. Precipitation may
start as some light snow mixed with freezing rain, then
gradually trending towards rain by sunrise as temperatures warm
up. Expect ceilings to trend towards MVFR/IFR as this clipper
moves in as well.
&&
.MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/...
Issued at 252 AM CST Mon Jan 12 2026
Wind speeds are expected to decrease slightly through today with
gusts eventually falling below 20 kt. As a clipper system
approaches going into Tuesday, wind speeds are expected to
increase again from the southwest. Wind gusts will start to
approach 25 kt on Tuesday, and there`s a 30-60% chance for gales
Tuesday night through Wednesday morning as well. A Gale Watch
has been issued for that period. As winds switch to northerly
Tuesday night into Wednesday, heavy freezing spray will be
possible particularly along the South Shore as well. Wave
heights to around 4 to 8 ft, locally up to 12 ft, are possible
along the South Shore through Wednesday morning. Expect
gradual improvement of winds and waves Wednesday night.
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...Gale Watch from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning for
LSZ121-140>148-150.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...JDS
AVIATION...JDS
MARINE...JDS
NWS DLH Office Area Forecast Discussion
