textproduct: Duluth

KEY MESSAGES

- Snow showers arrive today and tonight in the Borderlands and along the North Shore, where localized heavier amounts are possible.

- A second round of light snow is forecast for Friday along our south which will lead to a couple inches for east central Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.

- Colder than average temperatures continue for the weekend with overnight lows dropping below zero and daytime highs remaining in the single digits and teens.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 118 PM CST Thu Dec 4 2025

The Northland will experience active weather over the next couple of days, starting with a weather system that is expected to bring light snow showers today. Snow showers are fighting dry air, so only flurries are being observed currently, but will increase in intensity throughout the late afternoon and evening. While overall accumulations will be minor - up to an inch, the area near the North Shore of Lake Superior may see the highest totals, possibly reaching 3 inches..

Another low pressure system will track south of our region on Friday morning, bringing another chance for accumulating snow, particularly across our southern forecast area, including east central Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. Current forecast guidance suggests these areas could receive 2 to 3 inches of snow, potentially impacting morning and afternoon travel. Further north, totals are expected to be lighter, with only a trace expected in the Iron Range. This system will move off to the east by Friday night, but an incoming cold air mass behind the system will cause lake effect snow in Iron County. This lake effect snow is expected to linger as late as early Sunday morning, continuing until the air over Lake Superior becomes too dry to produce snow showers. Following the end of the lake effect snow, the fresh surge of cold air will settle into the rest of the Northland for the weekend. This will lead to a significant drop in temperatures, with readings up to 15 degrees below normal on both Saturday and Sunday. Highs will be in the teens and single digits, while overnight lows will be below zero and approaching -10 degrees.

Early next week, the weather pattern remains active with another approaching weather system associated with a push of warmer air aloft. While precipitation is possible, confidence in the exact track, timing, and amounts of any potential snowfall is low due to forecast guidance diverging.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1137 PM CST Thu Dec 4 2025

A mix of conditions continue into early this morning as areas of MVFR clouds and some snow makes its way across the region. Some pockets of IFR ceilings could be possible. A secondary push of snow moves across BRD and HYR and maybe DLH Friday morning bringing reduced visibilities and ceilings. Gusty southerly winds should continue this weaken, becoming more northwest into Friday for all terminals except HYR which remains more southwest until Friday evening.

MARINE /FOR NEAR SHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/

Issued at 118 PM CST Thu Dec 4 2025

Strong winds are expected across western Lake Superior over the next 48 hours. Southwesterly winds will continue to increase this afternoon, reaching gale force with gusts of 35 to 40 knots, particularly along the North Shore and the Outer Apostle Islands. These strong winds will generate significant waves of 7 to 10 feet, with occasional waves approaching 12 feet near Grand Portage. Freezing spray is also expected, which can accumulate ice on vessels. Winds will shift to the west on Friday and decrease, though hazardous conditions for small craft may linger into the morning.

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 10 AM CST Friday for LSZ121-145>148. Gale Warning until midnight CST tonight for LSZ140>144-150.