textproduct: Duluth

KEY MESSAGES

- Scattered rain and snow showers will continue across the Northland today and tonight, providing light precipitation amounts.

- A fast moving shortwave will cross the region Saturday night, bringing increased probabilities for showers.

- Stronger troughing and a surface low will increase precipitation chances again Monday.

- Cool and generally dry conditions linger through most of the forecast.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 107 AM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026

Early this morning, we are seeing some lingering flurries and light snow showers across portions of the Arrowhead and northern Minnesota. Through the daylight hours today, a persistent upper level low spinning near Lake Superior will keep clouds and scattered showers in the forecast for much of the Northland. With steep low level lapse rates developing by the afternoon, expect to see a mix of rain and snow showers blossoming across the area similar to Wednesday. Precipitation amounts will stay light. High temperatures today will generally reach the 40s. For the overnight hours tonight, shower activity will gradually taper off as we lose daytime heating, with low temperatures dropping into the 20s.

Temperatures will be slightly warmer on Friday, with highs climbing into the upper 40s to lower 50s. Skies will likely be partly cloudy with happy little cumulus around before eventually clearing out Friday night, setting us up for another chilly night with lows dipping back into the 20s.

Looking ahead to the weekend, Saturday will start off relatively dry and pleasant with highs warming into the 50s and 60s as some brief ridging moves through. However, this dry break will be short lived. A fast moving shortwave trough is slated to cross the region Saturday night. We have increased the probabilities of precipitation to account for this wave, which will bring our next round of scattered rain showers to the area. Rainfall amounts from this overnight system look to remain very light.

By early next week, the pattern remains active but generally quiet in terms of significant weather impacts. Stronger troughing arriving on Monday morning, accompanied by a surface low pressure system, will increase the probabilities for precipitation once again. This will lead to more scattered rain showers, and possibly some isolated mixed snow showers during the colder morning hours. Despite these periodic fast moving waves bringing chances for precipitation on Sunday, Monday, and into mid week, there is not much change in the generally quiet weather pattern. We are not anticipating any heavy rain or major storm systems through the extended period. Temperatures will run below normal through early May, with highs mostly in the 50s.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 550 AM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026

VFR conditions will generally prevail across the Duluth TAF sites over the next 24 hours. A mix of scattered rain and snow showers will develop from late morning through the afternoon today, which could bring brief, localized MVFR to IFR visibility reductions if a heavier shower moves directly over a terminal. Northwest winds with gusts up to 15 knots will occur this afternoon before diminishing this evening. VFR conditions are expected to continue tonight and into Friday morning.

MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/

Issued at 107 AM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026

Northwest to north winds will continue across western Lake Superior through today, generally staying around 5 to 15 knots, though a few gusts near 20 knots are possible. Scattered rain and snow showers are possible today. High pressure will bring lighter and somewhat variable winds on Friday. West to southwest winds will begin to increase on Saturday as the next low pressure system and cold front approach the region from the west. Winds should remain below small craft advisory levels through the week.

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

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 107 AM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026

Areas of scattered rain and snow showers will continue off and on through today. Afternoon relative humidity values will fall into the 30 to 45 percent range with northwest winds generally 5 to 15 mph. Lingering shower chances persist into Friday before drier conditions arrive. Relative humidity values may drop into the 25 to 35 percent range on Friday and Saturday afternoons. Winds will remain relatively light, generally out of the north or west around 5 to 15 mph. A couple of weak systems cross into next week for minor precipitation amounts.

See the Fire Weather Forecast product for a more thorough breakdown of fire weather conditions.

DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MN...None. WI...None. MARINE...None.