Issued at 4:26 PM CDT, Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
Note: Snowfall total in West Duluth varies between 3-4″ as of 4 PM Today…Were now seeing light drizzle and light freezing drizzle with strong east-northeast winds…The snow which wasn’t wet about 3 hours ago has morphed into a concrete/wet/slushy type of snow as temperatures warm toward freezing as the dry slot moves overhead…
*Winter Storm Warning* now in effect until Noon CDT Wednesday for the following counties in Minnesota: Northern St. Louis… Lake… And Cook… Some cities included in the warning are: Orr… Crane Lake… Two Harbors… Finland… Lutsen… Isabella… Tofte… Little Marais… Beaver Bay… And Grand Marais… Snow heavy at times will continue to fall in the warning through Wednesday Morning…Although the snow may end for a time This Evening before it picks back up once again later Tonight. Snowfall rates could approach 1-2″ an hour in the most intense snow bands… Gusty east to northeast winds at 15-35 mph will cause blowing and drifting snow and whiteout conditions during times of heavy falling snow. Snowfall accumulations so far Today have generally ranged from 4-8″ in the warning area…Another 2-6″ of snow is expected through Wednesday which will bring storm totals to 6-14″… Travel will continue to be extremely difficult or impossible through Wednesday…
*Winter Storm Warning* in effect until 7 AM CDT Wednesday for the following counties… In Minnesota: Koochiching… Itasca… Cass… Crow Wing… Aitkin… Central and Southern St. Louis… Carlton… And Pine… In Wisconsin: Douglas… Burnett… Washburn… And Bayfield… Some cities included in the warning are: International Falls… Littlefork… Bigfork… Grand Rapids… Cass Lake… Walker… Brainerd… Aitkin… Hill City… McGregor… Hibbing… Cotton… Floodwood… Duluth… Esko… Cloquet… Cromwell… Moose Lake… Hinckley… Pine City… Superior… Solon Springs… Siren… Grantsburg… Spooner… Minong… Shell Lake… Port Wing… And Bayfield… Areas of snow will continue over Koochiching and Itasca Counties in Minnesota This Evening while areas of drizzle…and freezing drizzle occur for the rest of the area covered by this warning… Be advise that areas of fog could also develop This Evening…Especially from Duluth-Superior on south. Another round of snow is then forecast to overspread the warning area from south to north between 7 PM-10 PM Tonight… Additional snow is then expected Overnight through Wednesday Morning… Snowfall totals Today have generally ranged from 2-6″ in the warning area with another 2-5″ of snow expected through Wednesday Morning… Storm total accumulations of 4-11″ are expected with the highest amounts falling west and northwest of Duluth. Gusty east to northeast winds will continue Tonight at 15-30 mph with gusts to 40 mph near Lake Superior. The wind will decrease from south to north later in the night. Areas of blowing and drifting snow will continue Tonight with whiteout or near whiteout conditions possible as the heavier snow bands move through. Travel will continue to be very difficult through Wednesday in the warning area.
*Winter Weather Advisory* is in effect until 7 AM CDT Wednesday for the following counties in Wisconsin: Ashland… Iron… Sawyer… And Price… Some cities included in the advisory are: Ashland… Hurley… Hayward… And Park Falls… Look for areas of rain, sleet, and snow This Evening to change over to snow Overnight and on Wednesday. Total snow accumulations of 2-4″ are possible in the advisory area by Wednesday with the higher totals expected to be over Ashland and Iron Counties. Use extreme caution if you will be traveling through Wednesday as roads will be wet in spots and ice covered or slushy in other areas.
*Flood Warning* now in effect until 130 PM CDT Thursday for Southwestern Cass County in Northcentral Minnesota… At 125 PM CDT Tuesday…Flooding continued along the Crow Wing River… During the past 24 hours river levels have decreased slightly.
*Flood Warning* in effect until further notice for the Mississippi River at Aitkin Minnesota…This includes Aitkin County in Eastcentral Minnesota… At 10 AM CDT Tuesday…The stage was 15 feet. Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast… Flood stage is 12 feet… The river will continue to slowly receed… At 15 feet minor flooding of low lying areas occurs in Aitkin.
*Flood Warning* in effect for the Mississippi River at Fort Ripley Minnesota including Crow Wing County in Eastcentral Minnesota until Tuesday, April 7th, 2009…Or until the warning is cancelled… At 10 AM CDT Tuesday…The stage was 11.5 feet… Flood stage is 10 feet. The river will continue to fall below flood stage by early Tuesday Morning, April 7th, 2009…
Tim