textproduct: Duluth

KEY MESSAGES

- Up to several inches of snow possible tonight through Wednesday morning, highest over northwest Wisconsin.

- A strong, quick-hitting clipper system is possible Thursday afternoon into Friday and could bring more snow and a rain/snow mix to the Northland.

- More snow is possible Saturday and Sunday, as the active pattern continues.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 256 AM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

A clipper system is moving through the Northland this morning, with most of its associated showers now east of the area and the cold front approaching Western Lake Superior. Will see colder air spread southward today, keeping high temperatures in the 30s along the Iron Range and northward, with breezy northwest winds. The cold front will stall in a west to east orientation across the area late today, as the shortwave pulls off to the east and mid level flow becomes more zonal.

Tonight, a surface low will move out of the northern Rockies and slowly pivot through the Plains toward the Mid Mississippi River Valley. A upper jet strengthens over the northern Plains and noses eastward, with a band of mid level forcing developing along the stalled front over the Northland. A band of light to moderate snowfall is expected near and north of this boundary, roughly south of the US-2 corridor eastward into northwest WI. This is a slight southern shift from previous forecasts, limiting accumulations in the Twin Ports and along the North Shore to around one half inch or less. Best amounts will be across northwest WI, where 1 to 2 inches is possible tonight. If the front stalls further to the north, this band of snowfall could also shift back to the north.

For Tuesday, longwave troughing deepens to our west, picking up the Central Plains surface low and ejecting it toward the Ohio River Valley. An active baroclinic zone remains over the Northland, with a mid level shortwave forcing continued snowfall over portions of the area. With northeasterly flow off the lake, and drier air north of the Iron Range, better precipitation chances will be across northwest WI, where another 2-3 inches is possible Tuesday night. Total for the Mon- Wed timeframe looks to be 1-5 inches over much of northwest WI, and will need to consider an advisory for tomorrow into Wednesday.

Expect a break in the precipitation for Wednesday as drier air and high pressure briefly build over the area. Southerly flow returns by Thursday morning as the next quick-hitting, but strong, clipper approaches the area. There remains some uncertainty on strength and track of the surface low through the area Thursday night into Friday, but if southeasterly flow strengthens ahead of the low, could see lake enhancement along the North Shore, pushing snow totals to warning criteria for this event. With warm advection ahead of the surface low, could see a rain snow mix Thursday afternoon across the southern half of the forecast area. This will also depend on the track of the low and if that warm nose makes it into the area.

Another system arrives for the weekend, with another round of snow Saturday and Sunday for the Northland. Although there is uncertainty on track and strength, it does look like this surface low will be further snow, putting the Northland on the cold, snowy side of the system.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 1221 AM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

A clipper is moving through the area tonight, with scattered showers and light rain stretching from INL to HIB to BRD. Other than INL, not all areas will see rainfall given the scattered nature of the activity. Cannot rule out TS, but lightning activity has decreased over the last 20-30mins. This clipper will continue quickly eastward and be east of the area by 6-7AM.

Current cigs are VFR, and could see a brief period of MVFR cigs at INL through sunrise. Otherwise, VFR cigs expected through the day Monday. Southwest winds will be gusty at times tonight, before turning to the northwest. Gusts up to 25kts are possible. A strong low level jet within the first few thousand feet of the surface will create a period of low- level wind shear at most terminals as a clipper passes through the region.

Monday night, another wave will bring lowered cigs and additional chances for precipitation.

MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/

Issued at 256 AM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

Strong southwest winds continue this morning with gusts to around 25 kt. Small Craft Advisories are in effect. Winds turn to the northwest this afternoon as a cold front passes through, and decrease below 20 kt through the afternoon. Winds switch to northeasterly early Tuesday morning, with another system passing through that could bring a bit of light snow. Gusts up to around 20 kt, maybe locally higher. Winds remain northeasterly through Wednesday.

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 CDT today for LSZ140-141. Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM CDT this morning for LSZ142- 147-150. Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM CDT this morning for LSZ143>146-148.