textproduct: Duluth

KEY MESSAGES

- Temperatures remain below normal into the weekend before warming to near normal levels for Sunday into the new week.

- Overall chances for snow remain low outside of some light lake-effect across northwest Wisconsin and a clipper system for Sunday into Sunday night.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 133 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

High pressure once again stretched from the Canadian Prairies into the Mississippi Valley. Weak low pressure was analyzed near Whitefish Bay with a trough extending back across the UP of Michigan into northeastern Minnesota. An area of stratus was dropping southward out of Canada into northern Minnesota and is expected to continue drifting south and scattering out early this evening. Light lake-effect snow showers will continue along the South Shore into tonight. Later tonight, a lobe of vorticity will rotate around an upper low to the south of James Bay and bring chances for a few light snow showers or flurries to the Borderlands southward through the region into the afternoon hours. Forecast soundings remain dry near the surface, so a lot of this activity will likely evaporate before reaching the ground. Any snowfall accumulations will be around a half inch or less. Lows tonight will drop into the teens below zero with wind chills in the teens and 20s below zero. With the light winds expected overnight, not anticipating temperatures reaching advisory level. Highs Thursday will be in the single digits above zero.

Thursday night will see another area of high pressure work southward out of the Canadian Prairies into the Northern Plains with deep high pressure well to the east. This will set up a pressure gradient over the Northland leading to north to northeasterly winds at 6 to 12 mph. With lows falling into the single digits and teens below zero, wind chills will be in the 20s and low 30s below zero. Cold Weather Advisories may be needed in spots, mainly across the Arrowhead. Lake-effect snow showers will continue for Friday and into Saturday morning before ending as high pressure moves to the southwest and swings more westerly. Any lake-effect accumulations along the South Shore through Saturday will be around an inch or less. Highs Friday will again be in the single digits above zero with teens and low 20s above zero by Saturday.

Southerly winds on Sunday will bring temperatures closer to normal reaching into the low to mid 20s. A clipper will move from southern Manitoba to northern Lake Superior Sunday into Monday morning and bring chances for light snowfall to the Northland. Probabilities for at least an inch of snowfall have dropped to 10-20% with the latest run of the NBM, with the best chances across the tip of the Arrowhead and into Iron County with lingering lake-effect. Lake-effect snow showers may linger into Tuesday before winds switch and turn it off. Another chance for snow is possible for the latter half of the week as another clipper system moves through the Upper Midwest. Temperatures will remain near normal for next week with highs in the 20s and lows in the teens and single digits above zero.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 523 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

A broken to scattered MVFR cloud deck continues to slowly move across the Northland this evening. Upstream in Ontario there is another expansive MVFR cloud deck expected to drop south overnight and through tomorrow. There will be potential for some flurries and light snow showers under this cloud deck tomorrow. Reduced visibility at times will be expected by accumulations are will be negligible.

MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/

Issued at 133 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

Northwesterly winds of 10 to 20 knots will continue into tonight before winds turn more northerly then northeasterly as weak through passes through tomorrow. A few gusts to 25 knots will be possible late this afternoon and evening with waves of 3-5 feet across the Outer Apostle Islands and an advisory remains in effect. Winds will generally remain northerly into Friday then southwesterly for the weekend. Speeds will remain at 20 knots or less after 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 midnight CST tonight for LSZ150.