textproduct: Duluth

KEY MESSAGES

- Quiet weather today, then scattered showers on Saturday with amounts generally less than a tenth of an inch.

- Warmer temperatures Sunday and into early next week.

- Widespread rain Monday and Tuesday with lingering rain possible Wednesday into Thursday.

UPDATE

Issued at 127 AM CDT Fri Oct 30 2026

A broad swath of mid and high level clouds is prevalent for much of the Northland this morning, likely associated with warm air advection and convergence aloft. These clouds will continue east today and we'll see periods of clouds and sun today. With high pressure passing through at the surface, winds will be very light today and the weather will be quiet. Not much change for tonight with below freezing temperatures expected for most areas.

Over the weekend, still expecting scattered showers, then the big widespread rain Monday and Tuesday, possibly lingering another day or two beyond that. PWATs are looking pretty impressive around 1-1.5". Models are still not in perfect agreement with how the merger of a clipper and Colorado low will play out, and that will affect how/where rain bands set up. However, with that impressive of PWATs, we could definitely end up seeing widespread amounts around 1" and higher amounts around 2" or slightly higher. With the ongoing drought, these rainfall amounts should be beneficial. The rain bands should be progressive enough such that rate-driven flooding shouldn't be a problem either. See the previous discussion for more information.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 254 PM CDT Thu Oct 29 2026

TONIGHT AND FRIDAY:

Cool advection and cloud cover have kept temperatures on the chilly side today, with low 50s only across portions of northwest WI that cleared out earlier this morning. Breezy northwest winds will diminish this evening, as high pressure slides into the region from the west. Expect cloud cover to continue eroding through the afternoon and evening as drier air arrives. With winds becoming light, temperatures will fall into the 20s overnight. Would not be surprised to see a few places in the upper teens in north central MN.

Cool to neutral cold advection in low levels will continue through part of the day Friday, while low level winds remain under the influence of the surface high. This will keep temperatures on the cool side, with highs in the mid 40s to mid 50s.

WEEKEND:

Warm advection develops Friday night as winds turn to the south and high pressure slides to the east. A warm front will lift northward, bringing scattered showers to the Northland Saturday. Although, coverage could be as much as 40-50 percent around mid day, little to no accumulation is expected. There could still be lingering showers around Saturday evening. Highs Saturday will be in the 50s, with temperatures falling into the 40s after sunset.

With continued southerly flow, temperatures continue to warm Sunday, with highs 10 to 20 degrees above normal. Afternoon highs will be in the 60s for most of the area, with mid to upper 50s along the Shores of Lake Superior. Overnight lows remain well above freezing.

EARLY NEXT WEEK:

By Monday and Tuesday, the chance for widespread precipitation returns as a larger and better organized storm system moves into the central CONUS. Model guidance is in better agreement with a surface low developing lee of the Rockies Monday and moving toward the Upper Midwest as a longwave trough moves through the Central CONUS. This will bring rainfall back to the Northland Monday. A second system, a clipper moving southeastward through central Canada, will arrive Tuesday, maintaining rain chances for the area. How these two systems interact and how quickly they move to the east will dictate how long rain chances hang around the Northland. Right now, it looks like we could be in a wetter pattern through at least Wednesday. This will bring widespread beneficial rainfall to the area, with temperatures remaining warmer than normal.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1238 AM CDT Fri Oct 30 2026

A broad shield of clouds will persist through tonight, but ceilings are expected to remain VFR. High pressure passing through will keep winds light and variable with skies clearing more today. VFR conditions are expected through the period.

MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/

Issued at 127 AM CDT Fri Oct 30 2026

No marine concerns through the weekend with high pressure passing through today, keeping winds light. Some blustery northeast winds are possible Monday as a storm brings widespread rain through midweek. Conditions will likely become hazardous for small craft late Monday into Tuesday.

For the open water discussion, refer to the NWS Marquette Area Forecast Discussion at weather.gov/mqt.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 127 AM CDT Fri Oct 30 2026

Dry weather today with min RH falling into the 35 to 45 percent range for much of northwest Wisconsin and a little higher in northeast Minnesota. Winds will be light today with high pressure passing through. A few showers move in Saturday and Sunday. Accumulations less than a tenth of an inch. Widespread rain Monday through midweek with totals likely around and higher than an inch for most places. Fire weather conditions will be minimal for the next week.

See the Fire Weather Forecast product for a more thorough breakdown of fire weather conditions.

DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MN...None. WI...None. MARINE...None.