textproduct: Duluth

KEY MESSAGES

- Snow continues today with widespread 1-2 inches and localized 3-4 inches along the North Shore. Slippery conditions possible with snowfall.

- Temperatures closer to normal expected throughout the mid week with high temperatures in the teens and twenties.

- The next clipper will be on Thursday with temperatures near to above freezing and rain/snow mix.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 425 AM CST Sun Feb 1 2026

A fast moving Alberta clipper is tracking into the region today, bringing widespread light snowfall to northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. While deep dry air near the surface has initially delayed the onset for some eastern areas, snow will eventually have a quick onset as moisture fills in with the progressing system. Most of the Northland can expect 1 to 2 inches of accumulation through this evening. However, southerly flow ahead of the cold front will provide some orographic enhancement along the North Shore, where 3 to 4 inches could accumulate in the higher elevations. Winds up to 30 mph has and will continue to blow snow around throughout the day, which may lead to some localized visibility reductions on roadways.

This afternoon into the evening, cold air advection leading to favorable lapse rates and plentiful low level moisture within the dendritic growth zone may keep scattered snow showers lingering behind the main front into the evening hours. Strong southerly winds this morning will shift to the northwest by tonight, ushering in a brief cooling trend with lows dropping near or below zero for many inland locations.

Looking ahead to the work week, the region will remain under a relatively cold air mass, but temperatures will moderate compared to recent extreme cold. Highs in the teens and 20s are expected Monday through Wednesday. By Thursday, a more potent clipper system will bring robust warm air advection ahead of it and will push high temperatures into the mid-30s, likely causing a transition from snow to rain or a rain and snow mix for much of the area. Latest thermal profiles show a vertically stacked freezing line, suggesting a clean rain to snow transition, though that is subject to change with future forecasts as there is still high uncertainty five days out. The storm track is also uncertain, which will affect where precipitation types will fall.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/

Issued at 538 AM CST Sun Feb 1 2026

Snow continues to move east throughout this morning. A dry slot has set up where conditions lift to VFR for a couple hours before a second round of snow once again lowers conditions to MVFR/IFR. Winds will switch from the south to the northwest with the cold front associated with this system and winds will increase to around 20 kts throughout the day. Some scattered snow showers may linger into the evening from continued cold air advection and low level moisture, but confidence is not high enough to include in the TAF.

MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/

Issued at 425 AM CST Sun Feb 1 2026

A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for all western Lake Superior nearshore waters until this afternoon and evening. Southwest winds will gust up to 30 knots this morning, creating waves of 2 to 4 feet in ice free areas, particularly along the North Shore and around the Apostle Islands. Winds will diminish and shift northwest by tonight.

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 6 PM CST this evening for LSZ140>144. Small Craft Advisory until noon CST today for LSZ145-146-148- 150.