Latest Duluth Area Text Forecast Discussion product from NWS:
197
FXUS63 KDLH 250533
AFDDLH
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
1133 PM CST Tue Feb 24 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Lingering slick spots are possible this afternoon from patchy
freezing drizzle and light snow as the morning clipper exits
the region.
- Cold wind chills return tonight, dipping down to 15 to 25
below zero across the Northland by Wednesday morning.
- Strong northwest winds gusting 30 to 40 mph will develop
across the region on Friday alongside a sharp cold front which
will drop temperatures well below 0F.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 204 PM CST Tue Feb 24 2026
The clipper system that brought a brief round of heavy snowfall
rates to the Northland is rapidly exiting to the east this
afternoon. While the accumulating snow has ended and all winter
weather advisories have been cancelled, a few lingering light
snow showers and patches of freezing drizzle may still persist
for the rest of the day, particularly across the Arrowhead and
northwest Wisconsin. Gusty west winds will continue this
afternoon before shifting to the northwest tonight as a strong
push of cold Canadian air filters into the area. Skies will
gradually clear, allowing actual temperatures to drop below zero
for most locations. This will result in cold wind chills
ranging from 15 to 25 below zero by Wednesday morning.
High pressure settles overhead for a quiet but chilly Wednesday,
with high temperatures confined to the teens. This cold snap will
be short lived as a broad ridge begins to build across the central
United States, bringing a noticeable warming trend to our region
for the latter half of the work week. By Thursday, highs will
climb back into the upper 30s, and we could see some light snow
brush our northern zones as a weak clipper passes.
Friday will be the warmest day of the week with highs peaking in
the upper 30s to mid 40s which means there may be fog over the
cold snow pack. However, a sharp cold front will sweep out of
Canada by Friday afternoon. This front will bring a significant
uptick in winds, with strong west to northwest winds gusting 30
to 40 mph over land maybe even up to 55 mph along the North
Shore. There is also a slight chance for snow squalls along this
frontal passage with steep lapse rates though most of our area
should be rather dry despite the intensity of this developing
system south of Hudson Bay - the exception may be Cook County
where there`s a better chance to get clipped by this larger
highly baroclinic system. Behind the front, an arctic airmass
will plunge southward, knocking our temperatures well below
normal for Saturday and Sunday - probably more than 15 degrees
below normal.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1132 PM CST Tue Feb 24 2026
MVFR ceilings with some HCRs are present across the Northland this
evening. HCRs are expected to taper off but stratus may linger
through most of the overnight. Satellite does have some clearing
upstream in the northwest flow but models are struggling to capture
this. Winds will remain gusty through the night before tapering off
through the late morning hours. VFR conditions are expected to
return tomorrow morning as stratus clears the region.
&&
.MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/...
Issued at 204 PM CST Tue Feb 24 2026
Strong west winds this afternoon will shift to the northwest
tonight, bringing gusts up to 30 knots across western Lake
Superior. Small Craft Advisories remain in effect for all
nearshore waters through Wednesday morning. Wave heights of 4 to
8 feet are expected around the Outer Apostle Islands, where a
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning is in effect tonight. Conditions
will temporarily improve Wednesday afternoon and night as winds
diminish to 5 to 10 knots. Gotta watch out for storm force winds
along the North Shore Friday evening, solid gales for sure.
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...Small Craft Advisory until noon CST Wednesday for LSZ140>146-
148-150.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning until 8 AM CST Wednesday for
LSZ146-150.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...Wolfe
AVIATION...Britt
MARINE...Wolfe
NWS DLH Office Area Forecast Discussion
