textproduct: Duluth

KEY MESSAGES

- Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills through the weekend. The coldest temperatures are forecast through this morning. Extreme Cold Warnings are ongoing through Noon today. Cold Weather Advisory goes into effect tonight.

- Light lake effect snow accumulating to an inch or less each day through the weekend. Weak clipper brings 20 to 40 percent chance of less than one inch of system snow to the area Monday night.

- Temperatures trend a little warmer Sunday into next week while still remaining below normal for late January.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 214 AM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

The core of the ongoing Arctic air mass remains entrenched over the Northland this morning, keeping the region in the grip of dangerous cold. Wind chills early this morning have been observed from 30 to 45 below zero and air temperatures of 25 to 40 below zero are being observed....closer to 15 to 20 below zero for shoreline areas. While high pressure to our south allows for some sunshine today, daytime high temperatures will remain in the single digits below zero. The Extreme Cold Warning stays in effect through Noon today.

As we transition into this evening and tonight, the air temperature will drop rapidly back toward 20 to 30 below zero. While wind speeds are expected to stay calm to pockets of light wind, the quickly returning dangerous cold keeps the Cold Weather Advisory in effect beginning at 6 PM this evening. If the wind forecast increases even a few mph though, there is a small possibility that portions of northwest Wisconsin could see conditions worsen enough to require an upgrade back to a warning For now, the Advisory covers the hazard well through Sunday morning.

In terms of snowfall, the weather remains relatively quiet inland, though a flurries may drift across northern Minnesota later this afternoon as a weak disturbance moves in from the northwest and winds shift for a short period to southwesterly. These flurries shift south of the Northland early Tuesday morning. The more notable activity though will be a convergence band that presently is targeting the Bayfield Peninsula but is expected to shift toward the North Shore later today. Southern Cook County has about a 30 percent chance of seeing less than an inch of accumulation into this evening. By tonight, this band will migrate back toward the northern tip of the Bayfield Peninsula and persist there through the weekend.

Looking toward the start of the work week, we will begin to see a slow moderation in temperatures. While still below normal, the daytime highs will finally start to climb into the single digits above zero and even lower teens. A weak clipper system is forecast to move through Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning, potentially (20-40% chance) bringing a dusting to half-inch of system snow to the region. Following this system, the extended forecast appears mostly dry and quiet outside of South Shore snowbelt light lake effect snowfall. Of note though is that the below- normal temperature trend will hang on for several more days before near to...maybe...slightly above normal temperatures arrive in early February.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 506 AM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

VFR conditions and light southwesterly surface winds prevail this TAF period outside of MVFR lake effect clouds over the Bayfield Peninsula. These MVFR conditions may reach southern Cook County as well during the daylight hours today as the band of snow shifts over the open waters and then northward. An area of mist or very fine snowflakes is first expected this afternoon around International Falls before dropping southward tonight and may eventually also impact HIB and BRD. Expanded the mentionable light snow and mist mention in the TAF to BRD tonight as a result. A bit more unsure about prolonged HIB impacts though being maybe on the far eastern edge of this observed mist/very fine light snow.

MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/

Issued at 158 AM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

Western Lake Superior will see west to northwest winds between 5 and 15 knots with occasional gusts to 20 knots through Sunday. Waves will generally be 2 feet or less. The next period of hazardous conditions for small craft may occur on Monday.

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

DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MN...Extreme Cold Warning until noon CST today for MNZ010>012- 018>021-025-026-033>038. Cold Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to noon CST Sunday for MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038. WI...Extreme Cold Warning until noon CST today for WIZ001>004- 006>009. Cold Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to noon CST Sunday for WIZ001>004-006>009. MARINE...Extreme Cold Warning until noon CST today for LSZ142. Cold Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to noon CST Sunday for LSZ142.