Issued at 8:24 PM CST, Monday, January 12th, 2009
Weather History:
On this date in 1987, a record high temperature of 45 degrees occurred at Duluth Minnesota.
At 02z low pressure of 1014 mb was over extreme Southwest Wisconsin or near the town of Hazel Green. High pressure of 1034 mb was centered over Southeast Saskatchewan.
Snow which occurred during the day over parts of Western and Southern Minnesota in association with the clipper low has shifted east and southeast of those areas as of early Evening. Light snow which developed over parts of Central and Eastern Minnesota Today has also exited off to the east at this time.
To go along with the falling snow, north-northwest winds increased Today behind the low pressure center from Westcentral through Southcentral Minnesota with wind speeds in the 20 to 35 mph range with wind gusts close to 50 mph. This resulted in considerable blowing and drifting snow… Whiteout conditions… And blizzard conditions at times Today over those areas of the state.
Several inches of snow did accumulate Today over parts of Minnesota, I’ll have a complete snowfall report Tuesday on Today’s event.
High temps around the state were in the single digits, teens, and 20s Today, but arctic air has pushed south-southeast across the state late Today behind the area of low pressure. Temperatures at 8 PM CT ranged from 20 below at Hallock Minnesota to 13 below at International Falls Minnesota to 15 below at Wadena Minnesota to 5 at Cambridge Minnesota to 12 at Austin Minnesota. 850 mb temperatures at 02z ranged from -24 degrees C in far Northern Minnesota to -14 degrees C in Southeast Minnesota. 850 mb temp at Duluth was -20 degrees C at 8 PM CT. North to northwest winds were in the 10 to 25 mph range early This Evening with wind chills falling into the 20 below to 40 below range across Northern, Western, and Central Minnesota with single digits and teens below farther South.
Tonight through Tuesday Night:
*Wind Chill Warning* covers Northern, Northeast, and parts of Eastcentral Minnesota through Tuesday Morning.
*Wind Chill Advisory* covers the rest of the state through late Tonight and Tuesday Morning.
*Blizzard Warning* *Winter Storm Warning* and *Winter Weather Advisories* cover parts of Southern Minnesota through late Tonight.
Bitter cold air and dangerous wind chills will occur around Minnesota Tonight and Tuesday as arctic high pressure passes west and south of Minnesota during the next 18-24 hours. Look for clear-partly cloudy skies around the state Tonight with lows falling into the teens, 20s, and 30s below zero. Highs Tuesday will range from around 20 below to 5 above Southwest.
Northwest winds Tonight at 10 to 25 mph are expected with winds on Tuesday out of the west, northwest, or east around 20 mph or less. Wind chills around the state will range from 15 below to 35 below Tonight and Tuesday with 35 below to 55 below wind chills on tap across Northern areas of the state through early Tuesday Afternoon.
By Tuesday Night, look for the next clipper system to drop southeast into the Northern Plains. This system will bring another round of snow to Westcentral and Southcentral Minnesota with a couple inches of accumulation looking likely at this time. The rest of the state should remain dry Tomorrow Night based on the latest track of this next clipper. Lows Tuesday Night will range from the teens and 20s below across the North to the single digits farther South. Winds Tomorrow Night will be out of the south, east, or north around 20 mph or less.
Extended Forecast:
Low pressure will slide south and southeast of Minnesota on Wednesday with a strong arctic high building back into Minnesota from the west during the Wednesday and Thursday time period. Areas of snow should be ending Wednesday Morning across Southern Minnesota, then it looks mainly dry around the state into Thursday. High temps Wednesday and Thursday will generally range from around 5 above to 15 below with lows Wednesday Night and Thursday Night ranging from 10 below to around 30 below zero.
Looks like we could be dealing with another period of gusty winds around the state Wednesday and Wednesday Night which could lead to blowing snow issues along with more dangerous wind chills around the state at that time.
Locally for Duluth/Superior:
*Wind Chill Warning* in effect until 12 PM CST Tuesday.
.Tonight… Bitterly cold with dangerous wind chills. Mostly clear. Low 15 below to 24 below. Wind northwest at 10 to 20 mph. Wind chills falling into the 30 below to 45 below range.
.Tuesday… Frigid with dangerous wind chills through Noon. Mostly sunny. High 1 below to 8 below. Wind west to northwest at 10 to 20 mph. Wind chills of 30 below to 45 below through Noon.
.Tuesday Night… Becoming mostly cloudy. Flurries possible. Low 8 below to 13 below with near steady or slowly rising temperatures possible. Wind becoming east under 12 mph.
.Wednesday… Flurries possible early, otherwise partly cloudy. High 2 below to 6 above.
.Wednesday Night… Mostly clear. Frigid. Low 16 below to 24 below.
.Thursday… Mostly sunny. High 1 above to 7 below.
.Thursday Night… Mostly clear. Low 16 below to 24 below.
8 PM Thompson Hill Observation:
Current Temperature: -2 degrees
Dewpoint: -10 degrees
Humidity: 65%
Wind: NW at 7 mph G 19 mph
Max Temperature Today: 14.2 degrees
Max Humidity Today: 83%
Min Temperature Today: -2 degrees
Min Humidity Today: 61%
Normal High Temperature Tomorrow 17 degrees
Normal Low Temperature Tomorrow -2 degrees
Tim
