textproduct: Duluth

KEY MESSAGES

- Dangerous cold persists this morning with wind chills ranging from 30 to 45 below zero. An Extreme Cold Warning remains in effect for parts of northeast Minnesota, with Cold Weather Advisories elsewhere through noon.

- A fast-moving clipper system will bring gusty winds and a quick dusting of light snow. Most locations will see less than an inch of accumulation.

- Very little snow chances expected for the next week and temperatures are expected to gradually warm up back to climatological averages by the weekend.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 257 AM CST Mon Jan 26 2026

Bitterly cold air remains entrenched across the Northland early this morning, necessitating the continuation of Extreme Cold Warnings and Cold Weather Advisories until noon. Current wind chills at this hour range from the 20s below in northwest Wisconsin to 30s to near 40 below in northeast Minnesota. Expect a bit more cooling yet this morning, leading to some extreme cold wind chills to 45 below for parts of northeast Minnesota. If you are venturing out early, frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes, so extra layers are essential.

Winds will begin to turn southwesterly and increase through the morning hours ahead of an approaching cold front and clipper system. This shift will actually help temperatures recover into the single digits above zero later today, feeling comparatively warmer than the weekend, although the gusty winds will keep it feeling brisk. By this afternoon, a clipper system and associated cold front will dive across the region. This should be a quick-hitting feature with limited moisture to work with. Expect a period of light snow or flurries to move from northwest to southeast during the late afternoon and evening hours. Accumulations will be minor, generally amounting to a dusting or a few tenths of an inch. Localized amounts up to one inch are possible, particularly in the Arrowhead or along the South Shore, but this will be the exception rather than the rule.

Behind the front tonight, winds will switch around to the northwest and remain blustery. While cold air will filter back in, it will not be nearly as cold as the arctic outbreak we just endured. Overnight lows will drop back below zero, but just the single digits.

The remainder of the work week looks relatively quiet. There is potential for lingering light lake-effect snow showers along the South Shore in the wake of the system and later on this week, but dry air should limit intensity. There are virtually no other snow chances for the next week except maybe some hints of clipper activity possible sometime over the weekend. A gradual warming trend is on the horizon, with temperatures likely to moderate closer to seasonal averages by the weekend.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 1129 AM CST Mon Jan 26 2026

A fast moving clipper will cross the area this afternoon and tonight. Recent model guidance has trended snow coverage downward, and have made slight adjustments in TAFs, with VCSH noted at most terminals. Where it does snow, there could be brief reductions in visibility to below 2 miles. Winds will increase from the southwest this afternoon with gusts of 22-25kts. As the front passes this evening, winds turn to the west, with a few hours of cigs around 3kft. Winds turn to the northwest tonight, remaining gusty, with cigs improving.

MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/

Issued at 257 AM CST Mon Jan 26 2026

Conditions will deteriorate today after a quick break early this morning. Southwesterly winds ramp up this morning, leading to gales by late afternoon and evening along the North Shore from Grand Marais to Grand Portage, and later for the Outer Apostle Islands through this evening. Heavy freezing spray is likely for some places as these strong winds interact with the frigid air mass and open water. Winds switch to northwesterly this evening, maintaining hazardous conditions for small craft through Tuesday morning. Of note, there is quite a bit of ice built up along the South Shore at this time. Especially from Sand Bay to Bayfield, thick ice cover, as observed by satellite, may not warrant a need for any headlines. Therefore, a Small Craft Advisory was not issued for that area at this time despite gusty winds expected.

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

DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MN...Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST today for MNZ012-020-021- 025-033>038. Extreme Cold Warning until noon CST today for MNZ010-011-018- 019-026. WI...Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST today for WIZ001>004- 006>009. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM CST this afternoon for LSZ140- 150. Heavy Freezing Spray Warning until 10 PM CST this evening for LSZ140>143-146. Gale Warning from 3 PM this afternoon to 10 PM CST this evening for LSZ140-150. Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM CST Tuesday for LSZ141>146- 148. Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST today for LSZ142. Heavy Freezing Spray Warning until 10 AM CST Tuesday for LSZ150.