textproduct: Duluth

KEY MESSAGES

- Light snow will be possible today and tomorrow. Any accumulations will be around an inch or less for most.

- Cold air arrives through the day Friday with the coldest temperatures expected Saturday and Sunday. Highs will be in the single digits above and below zero with morning lows in the teens and 20s below zero.

- Temperatures warm heading into the new week with a few chances for light snow.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 423 AM CST Thu Dec 11 2025

High pressure was in place across the Upper Midwest and into the Mississippi Valley. Low stratus was evident on satellite downwind of Lake Superior across parts of northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Another area of low stratus stretched from northwestern Minnesota into central and southeastern Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin. Light snow was observed under this cloud deck. As the day progresses, the high will shift to the southeast as a clipper system passes by to our south. Most of the snow from this system looks to remain to our south, but a few flurries will be possible across northeastern Minnesota with some energy aloft. This activity would mainly be during the afternoon before ending with the loss of daytime heating. Highs today will be in the teens with lows tonight falling into the single digits. An upper low moving across northern Manitoba Friday will drag a cold front across Upper Midwest. This will bring light snow showers starting during the early morning hours and continuing through the day before ending during the evening as the low moves east of Lake Superior. Snowfall totals from this clipper will be around an inch or less. Slight higher amounts will be possible with lake- effect snowfall across the Bayfield Peninsula and into northern Iron County. This snow may linger into Saturday morning.

Another shot of colder air moves in during the day Friday behind the cold front. High temperatures will likely be reached by late morning or midday with readings in the teens before temperatures fall through the afternoon and evening. Lows Saturday morning will settle into the single digits and teens below zero. Wind chills will be in the 20s and 30s below zero as winds will remain elevated through the night as a pressure gradient remains overhead between the departing low to the east and high pressure building in from the west. Highs Saturday will likely remain below zero with the only areas reaching positive territory being near Lake Superior. The high dives to the south on Saturday night into Sunday with another very cold night expected as lows fall into the teens and 20s below zero. Winds will be lighter, but wind chills will again be in the 20s to 30s below zero. Cold Weather headlines may be needed both Saturday and Sunday mornings. Winds turn southerly on Sunday bringing warm air advection to the Upper Midwest and highs in the single digits above zero.

The warmup will persist into the new week with highs in the teens and 20s above zero Monday with 30s for Tuesday. A clipper looks to slide by to the northeast of the region Sunday night into Monday morning with perhaps some light snow showers across the Arrowhead and some lake-effect along the South Shore. Another clipper will take a similar track for Monday night into Tuesday except perhaps a little further south. This will again bring chances for light snow showers to mainly the Arrowhead into the South Shore. The pattern will remain active into midweek with another clipper possible along with temperatures cooling slightly back to more normal levels.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1158 AM CST Thu Dec 11 2025

Largely VFR conditions persist into this evening with light and variable winds. A quick push of snow moves from west to east starting early Friday morning and should reduce visibilities and ceilings to MVFR levels. Gusty northwest winds are expected behind the snow.

MARINE /FOR NEAR SHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/

Issued at 949 AM CST Thu Dec 11 2025

Fairly calm winds today should become southwesterly into Friday ahead of a passing front bringing light snowfall. As that front passes, much stronger northwest winds are expected to strengthen really quickly, especially along the North Shore where they will be enhanced by downslope flow. Have increased winds from late Friday afternoon through the day Saturday and issued a Gale Watch from 6pm Friday to 6PM Saturday. Would expect the strongest gusts to be Friday evening into early Saturday morning with isolated pockets of storm force gusts possible, most likely between Grand Marais and Silver Bay. Winds remain elevated through the day Saturday before weakening into the day Sunday. Lake effect snow bands are expected along the South Shore and in the open waters Saturday and Sunday with very cold temperatures, which may reduce visibility at times. Additionally, with very strong winds and very cold temperatures, some freezing spray may be possible.

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 Friday evening through Saturday afternoon for LSZ140>143.