Issued at 3:24 PM CDT, Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
Weather History:
On this date in 2003… A record high temperature of 60 degrees occurred at Duluth, Minnesota.
…All headlines issued by the National Weather Service Duluth, Minnesota…
*SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY*
A Small Stream Flood Advisory has been extended until 2 PM CDT Wednesday due to melting snow in the Nemadji River Basin…Counties affected: Southeastern Carlton MN…Northeastern Pine MN…And Northwestern Douglas WI… At 12 PM CDT Today the Nemadji River was 19.2 feet which is near bank full. The river is expected to remain steady through Wednesday before receeding.
Rapid snowmelt is causing high flow and elevated river levels on small creeks and streams draining into the Nemadji River…Expect ponding of water on some low lying country roads and farmland along the banks of creeks…streams and mainstream of the Nemadji River. Keep children well away from these swollen drainages as the banks may be unstable. Remember…even a small depth of moving water is very powerful.
…RECORD MARCH WARMTH…
On Monday, March 15th, 2010 the high temperature at Duluth Minnesota reached 60 degrees! This broke the record high temperature of 57 degrees which was set in 1995.
Weather tidbits:
*60 degree high temperature on Monday at Duluth, MN was the 1st time since September 27th, 2009 with a maximum temperature of 60 degrees
*Last year the 1st 60 degree high temperature day didn’t occur until April 16th, 2009. So in comparison were about a month ahead between our 1st 60 degree high temperature this year compared to last year.
Another day of unseasonably warm temperatures on Monday, March 15th, 2010. Here are some of the high temperatures that occurred around Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin. Source: NWS Duluth, MN.
Duluth MN: 60 degrees
Hibbing MN: 58 degrees
Two Harbors MN: 57 degrees
Silver Bay MN: 55 degrees
Grand Marais MN: 59 degrees
Ely MN: 59 degrees
Eveleth MN: 61 degrees
Moose Lake MN: 61 degrees
Hinckley MN: 64 degrees
Ashland WI: 58 degrees
Hayward WI: 64 degrees
Superior WI: 61 degrees
Siren WI: 63 degrees
Phillips WI: 66 degrees
Embarrass MN: 60 degrees
3 miles West of Floodwood MN: 63 degrees
Butternut WI: 63 degrees
Upson WI: 60 degrees
Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin
Today’s Weather:
An upper level disturbance dropping south across Minnesota went on to produce areas of light rain across parts of Northern-Eastern Minnesota and extreme Northwestern Wisconsin from last night through This Morning, rain totals were generally light and under one quarter inch. Skies This Afternoon became partly to mostly cloudy across our area with just a few spotty showers in parts of Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin. Highs Today were in the 50s to lower 60s with 40s along parts of the North Shore of Lake Superior and in portions of Eastcentral Minnesota. 850 mb temperatures as of 3 PM ranged from +1 to +3 degrees C across our area. Winds Today were out of the north, northwest, or east under 15 mph. Surface map This Afternoon featured a trough extending from Southern Ontario Province to far Northeast Minnesota through Western Lake Superior southeast to the Upper Michigan/Wisconsin border. High pressure of 1030 mb was centered in Western South Dakota.
Today’s 500 mb analysis:
Northerly flow aloft was in place across the Upper Midwest Today per RUC model analysis and water vapor satellite imagery. An upper level disturbance continued to drop south across Western Minnesota This Afternoon with weak 30 meter 12 hour 500 mb height falls occurring in Southern Minnesota near this system. Upper level ridge of high pressure (570-576 meters) covered the Rockies Today with H85 temperatures of +10 to +16 degrees C along with surface temperatures in the 60s and 70s! A strong upper level low was heading northeast into Western British Columbia Today per water vapor satellite imagery with intense 120-180 meter 12 hour 500 mb height falls with that system.
Tonight through Wednesday Night:
High pressure will build south/east out of Western South Dakota during this period. Spotty shower activity will taper off before 9 PM This Evening, then partly to mostly cloudy skies can be expected across Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin Tonight with patchy fog possible. Mostly sunny skies are forecast on Wednesday with mostly clear skies for Wednesday Night. Lows Tonight will be in the 20s and 30s with highs Tomorrow mainly in the 50s with some 60s also possible. Lows Tomorrow Night will be in the 30s to lower 40s. Light winds Tonight will become west to southwest at 10-25 mph Tomorrow and Tomorrow Night.
Extended Forecast:
Low pressure will pass by to our north/northeast for Thursday and Friday. A cold front attached to this low will sweep southeast through our area on Thursday. Low pressure is then forecast to strengthen across the Southern Plains on Friday before making a move toward the Ohio Valley/Eastern Great Lakes region around Sunday. Colder temperatures will move into the Upper Midwest from Friday through Sunday as north winds develop which will help to bring chillier air to our area. High temperatures on Thursday will be in the 40s and 50s with a few 60s possible in Northwest Wisconsin. Lows Thursday Night will be in the 20s and 30s. Highs on Friday will be in the 30s and 40s with lows Friday Night in the teens and 20s. Any snow or rain for Friday and Saturday looks like it will pass to our south/southeast based on the latest model projections, overall it looks mainly dry across Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin this weekend unless the low coming out of the Southern Plains trends farther west/north then what is shown at the moment, that potential seems quite low right now.
The system around the middle of next week (March 23rd-25th) continues to show up on the long range GFS model Today, but the new EUROPEAN model This Afternoon has shifted the track much farther south with little or no impact for our local area. Should this system affect our weather, then it could bring some accumulating snow or a chilly rain to parts of our area around the middle of next week. Should this system pass to our south…Then most of next week would be dry across Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin.
5 Day Forecast for Duluth/Superior
.Tonight… Partly cloudy. Patchy fog possible late. Low 32 to 37. Wind variable under 10 mph.
.Wednesday… Mostly sunny. High 57 to 62. Wind west at 10 to 20 mph.
.Wednesday Night… Mostly clear. Low 35 to 40. Wind southwest at 10 to 15 mph.
.Thursday… Partly to mostly cloudy. High 50 to 55.
.Thursday Night… Partly cloudy. Low 30 to 35.
.Friday… Mostly cloudy. High 40 to 45.
.Friday Night… Mostly cloudy. Low 20 to 25.
.Saturday… Partly sunny. High 33 to 38.
Normal High Temperature Today 34 degrees
Normal Low Temperature Today 16 degrees
Tim