Issued at 3:27 PM CST, Monday, February 8th, 2010
Weather History:
On this date in 1991… A record high temperature of 52 degrees occurred at Duluth, Minnesota.
Weather Headlines:
-Arctic air in Southern Minnesota while “balmy” conditions for February prevailed across Northeast Minnesota.
-Snow emergencies in effect for Minneapolis
-Heavy lake effect snow northeast of Duluth last night and Today
-Most of our local area has had pultry snow totals out of this weird system
-East coast braces for one, possibly two more major winter storms this week
Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin
Today’s Weather:
Low pressure of 1020 mb was centered in Southwest Minnesota This Afternoon with high pressure of 1036 mb centered in Southern Saskatchewan Province. The low to our southwest brought some light snow to most of our local area last night and Today with snow accumulations ranging from a dusting to 1″ with some 2-3″ totals across parts of Cass and Crow Wing Counties Minnesota. Snow associated with this system has been heavier in Western through Central and Southern Minnesota with a swath of 4-7″ totals in those areas. Most of the snow by This Afternoon has pushed into Southern parts of our area while clearing has taken place west and north of the Iron Range. Highs Today were generally in the 20s in Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin, while arctic air with high temps in the single digits were common across the Southwest half of Minnesota! 850 mb temperatures as of 3 PM were sitting right around -12 degrees C across our local area. Winds Today were from the east or north-northeast under 20 mph.
Today’s 500 mb analysis:
Potent and very compact upper level low (528 meters) was tracking slowly toward the south out of Eastern South Dakota and Southwest Minnesota This Afternoon per water vapor satellite imagery and 500 mb analysis. An upper level trough covered most of the Upper Midwest, Northern Plains, and Central Canada Today with H5 temps down to -30 to -38 degrees C. 12 hour 500 mb height falls of 60-90 meters were occurring This Afternoon per RUC model analysis across Nebraska, Western Iowa, Southwest Minnesota, and Southeast South Dakota near the 500 mb low.
Tonight:
Areas of light snow and flurries will linger in Western-Southern parts of our local area Tonight with additional accumulations up to 2″ possible. Partly cloudy skies will be found from the Iron Range on North Tonight with overcast conditions continuing farther south. Lows Tonight will range from the single digits below to above zero in Northern Minnesota with teens and lower 20s in Northwest Wisconsin and Eastcentral Minnesota. Winds Tonight will be out of the north or east under 20 mph. Strong high pressure will remain off to our north/west Tonight while a potent upper level low continues to drop slowly S/SE from Eastern South Dakota and Southwest Minnesota toward the Southwest part of Iowa by dawn.
Tuesday and Tuesday Night:
Upper level low will head south/east into the Lower Great Lakes and Ohio Valley region during this period while strong high pressure settles south into the Upper Midwest. Areas of light snow and flurries could affect parts of Northwest Wisconsin and Eastcentral Minnesota on Tuesday, but additional snow amounts should remain under 2″. Dry conditions should return for most of our area by Tuesday Night. Highs Tomorrow will be in the single digits, teens, and 20s with lows Tomorrow Night in the single digits below to above zero with some teens and possibly 20s below zero expected in Northern Minnesota. Winds will be out of the north or northeast under 20 mph through this period.
Extended Forecast:
The East Coast could see one, perhaps two additional winter storms this week while the Upper Midwest will be in a fairly tame El-Nino pattern from mid-week through the weekend. The overall pattern looks mainly dry for our area, although some flurries or snow showers can’t be ruled out at times later this week and this weekend as some weak disturbances embedded within a northwest flow aloft pass through the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. High temperatures for Wednesday and Thursday will be in the teens and 20s with lows Wednesday Night and Thursday Night in the single digits below to above zero.
5 Day Forecast for Duluth/Superior
*WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY* IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TUESDAY.
.Tonight… Occasional light snow and flurries with heavier lake effect snow showers at times. Snow accumulating 1-3″, but localized amounts from 4-8″ are possible. Low 5 to 10, a little warmer closer to Lake Superior. Wind east to northeast at 10 to 20 mph, becoming northeast to north Overnight.
.Tuesday… Occasional light snow and flurries. Snow accumulations 1″ or less. Heavier lake effect snow showers may linger during the Morning with localized snow amounts from 1-3″ possible. Total snowfall accumulations from 2-5″, but localized amounts from 5-11″ are possible. High 16 to 21. Wind north to northeast at 10 to 20 mph.
.Tuesday Night… Decreasing cloudiness. Low 2 below to 3 above. Wind north to northwest at 10 to 15 mph.
.Wednesday… Partly cloudy. High 15 to 20.
.Wednesday Night… Mostly clear. Low zero to 5 below.
.Thursday… Partly sunny. High 18 to 23.
.Thursday Night… Variable cloudiness. Low 5 to 10.
.Friday… Mostly cloudy. High 20 to 25.
Normal High Temperature Today 22 degrees
Normal Low Temperature Today 3 degrees