textproduct: Duluth

KEY MESSAGES

- First of two systems tapers off from SW to NE tonight. Snow expected this evening into tonight with strong winds near Lake Superior leading to blowing snow. Wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow slowly changes to all snow over NW WI.

- A second system arrives Friday afternoon and departs Saturday night with heavy snow for north central Minnesota and a mix of snow and ice elsewhere.

- Active weather continues next week with additional precip chances Sunday into Monday and Wednesday into Thursday.

UPDATE

Issued at 742 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

Replaced Winter Storm Warning for Price County which expired at 7 PM with a Winter Weather Advisory for up to a tenth of an inch of freezing rain and a dusting of snow valid until 1 AM.

Precipitation changing over to snow for most of the Northland. Warm nose aloft evident on KDLH WSR-88D correlation coefficient and Zdr products south of a line from near Hinckley to Solon Springs to near Port Wing. Expect a mix of snow, freezing rain, and sleet to gradually change to all snow over NW WI before ending.

Remainder of the short-term forecast unchanged.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 258 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

It is actively snowing across northeast Minnesota, while a messy mix of rain, snow, and freezing rain is falling across northwest Wisconsin. The Brainerd Lakes region has also been switching between snow, sleet, and freezing rain throughout the day. Winds in excess of 40 mph have been observed near Lake Superior, causing blowing snow and reduced visibilities in the Twin Ports and up the North Shore. Enhanced snowfall along the North Shore due to terrain and lake enhancement is expected to lighten up this evening as winds start to shift to the north. What precipitation is still falling later this evening is expected to switch back to snow as surface temperatures drop down below freezing. Precipitation will taper off tonight as temperatures fall into the lower to mid 20s.

A brief lull Friday morning gives way to our second, much stronger winter storm arriving Friday afternoon and lasting through Saturday. The TROWAL with the next system has tightened up a little bit spatially, and maximum snowfall amounts across north central Minnesota have increased slightly. However, this still only reflects how much is expected to fall, not necessarily accumulate due to lower snow to liquid ratios, temperatures hovering around freezing, and melting on pavement - especially during the daytime. The current Winter Storm Watch has been continued, but counties such as Koochiching, Itasca, and northern St. Louis will likely need a Winter Storm Warning due to the heavy snowfall. Furthermore, Winter Storm Warnings or even Ice Storm Warnings may be needed across areas of northwest Wisconsin since ice totals have increased significantly. Highest ice accumulations will be in Wisconsin counties along Lake Superior with a quarter to a half inch possible. Temperatures will generally hover in the 30s, and winds will shift from the east to the northwest by late Saturday, gusting up to 40 mph again.

Sunday will provide a very brief break in the active pattern with highs recovering into the lower 40s across the Northland and winds diminishing. However, another quick clipper system will arrive from the north late Sunday and linger into Monday. This quick clipper will bring light snow to mainly the Arrowhead and northwest Wisconsin, and may drop an additional inch, with up to 3 inches possible along the South Shore due to lake enhancement. High temperatures on Monday will drop back into the 30s with breezy northwest winds, and we will need to monitor the environment for the potential of localized snow squalls Monday afternoon given the steep low level lapse rates, low values of CAPE, and fast pressure changes.

By Tuesday, high pressure attempts to build in, allowing for mostly sunny skies and a dry stretch of weather. Temperatures will start out quite cold early Tuesday morning, in the single digits to lower teens, but high temperatures will increase quickly into the upper 30s to lower 40s under the spring sun with lighter winds. The break is short-lived as the pattern remains active heading into Wednesday and Thursday. Another low pressure system will approach the area, bringing chances for rain and snow showers as highs warm into the upper 40s and lower 50s. Winds will shift to the south and east, picking up in intensity by Wednesday afternoon as this mid-week system crosses the region.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 742 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

Winter storm #1 of 2 will taper off from SW to NE tonight. Mix of SN, PL, and FZRA over portions of NW WI will gradually change to all SN before ending tonight. Expect IFR/LIFR ceilings to persist before CIGS improve briefly Friday morning into early afternoon. Precip with storm #2 will begin to move into central Minnesota around 18Z Friday and spread NNE across the terminals through the evening. A wintry mix is expected initially changing to all snow. Snow rates will be highest Friday evening into the early portion of Saturday morning. Expect periods of LIFR VIS and CIGS. HYR and ASX should see a mix of RA/FZRA/SN from system #2.

MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/

Issued at 258 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

Dangerous conditions continue across Western Lake Superior with Gale Warnings in effect through Friday morning. Northeast winds gusting up to 45 mph are generating massive waves between 8 to 14 feet, with occasional waves up to 18 feet. A brief lull Friday morning will be followed by another strong low pressure center arriving Friday night, bringing renewed east to northeast gales and heavy mixed precipitation through Saturday.

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

DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MN...Winter Storm Warning until 7 AM CDT Friday for MNZ020-021. Winter Storm Watch from Friday afternoon through late Saturday night for MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038. Winter Weather Advisory until 7 AM CDT Friday for MNZ010>012- 018-019-026-037-038. Winter Weather Advisory until 1 AM CDT Friday for MNZ025- 033>036. WI...Winter Weather Advisory until 7 AM CDT Friday for WIZ001>004. Winter Weather Advisory until 1 AM CDT Friday for WIZ006>009. Winter Storm Watch from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning for WIZ001>004-006>009. MARINE...Gale Warning until 7 AM CDT Friday for LSZ140. Gale Warning until 1 AM CDT Friday for LSZ141>147-150. Winter Storm Warning until 7 AM CDT Friday for LSZ142. Winter Storm Watch from Friday afternoon through late Saturday night for LSZ142. Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM CDT Friday for LSZ148.