textproduct: Duluth

KEY MESSAGES

- Lake effect snow continues for the Wisconsin snow belt this evening, with lighter lake effect to linger until Friday morning.

- Temperatures decrease today and will remain below freezing for the rest of the forecast period.

- Another system is expected to move to our south this weekend, which will bring light snow accumulations to the Northland.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 210 PM CST Wed Nov 26 2025

This system is beginning to exit and snow is ending across much of the Northland. Lake effect snow is lingering along the South Shore, still with plenty of moisture and high lapse rates (7-10 C/km) as cold air is advected over Lake Superior. This lake effect is expected to affect far northern portions of Ashland and Iron counties through early Friday, dumping an additional 6-10 inches over portions of Iron County. The heavy snow will continue into tonight, and the Blizzard Warning will still be in effect due to the snow rates, winds, and low visibilities still being seen in these areas. A Winter Weather Advisory will be considered is snow begins to end early, but not expecting any additional headlines after early Thursday morning.

The snow will be here to stay as temperatures remain below freezing for the rest of the forecast period, with high temperatures in the 20s and lows in the teens across the Northland. By early next week, highs will reach only the teens and lows will be around to below zero.

This weekend, an upper level trough will dive south over the Rockies and another Colorado low will move across the Midwest. This system, however, looks to move much further south than this previous system, and the heaviest snow looks to stay to our south. However, there is enough upper level forcing and moisture that some light to moderate snow is possible across northwest Wisconsin. A few inches are possible, and won't be nearly as impactful as this previous system. Winds, while elevated, will not be nearly as strong, with gusts only expected to reach 25-30 mph with this system.

Again, after this next system moves off to the east, lake effect snow will once again start up along the South Shore. However, the window for efficient lake effect will be short as winds turn from the east to the northwest as sufficient moisture exits the region, and only a few additional inches are expected for northern Ashland and Iron counties compared to surrounding areas.

Global models show our active pattern continuing after this weekend, but there is nothing conclusive so far due to discrepancies between them.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1139 AM CST Wed Nov 26 2025

IFR to LIFR conditions in moderate to heavy snow and blowing snow will continue across most of northwest Wisconsin into tonight. MVFR to IFR conditions in light snow, blowing snow and stratus will continue into this evening for northeast Minnesota. Northwest wind gusts of 25-35 knots will also continue into tonight across northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. MVFR stratus and scattered snow showers are expected on Thanksgiving, with northwest winds gusting 20-25kts. Localized pockets of IFR visibility are likely in the heavier snow showers on Thanksgiving.

MARINE /FOR NEAR SHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/

Issued at 210 PM CST Wed Nov 26 2025

Strong northwest winds continue on the back side of the system that brought widespread snowfall last night. Gales are expected to last into tonight, and Gale Warnings are in effect. Waves along the South Shore from west to east will increase to 7 to 14 ft. Winds and waves will begin to decrease tomorrow, but conditions hazardous to small craft will linger into Friday morning. Winds will increase again over the weekend as another system moves to our south. Chances for gales are low, but conditions hazardous to small craft will return.

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

DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MN...Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening for MNZ012- 019>021-037. WI...Winter Weather Advisory until midnight CST tonight for WIZ001- 008-009. Blizzard Warning until 6 PM CST this evening for WIZ002. Blizzard Warning until 6 AM CST Thursday for WIZ003-004. MARINE...Gale Warning until 6 AM CST Thursday for LSZ121-140>148-150.