Monthly Archives: October 2010

Issued at 4:55 PM CDT, Sunday, October 31st, 2010

Hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween!!!

Low temperature report for Sunday, October 31st, 2010.  Source:  NWS Duluth, Minnesota.

Duluth, MN:  23 degrees
Brainerd, MN:  22 degrees
Hayward, WI:  20 degrees
Silver Bay, MN:  25 degrees
Ely, MN:  21 degrees
Pine River, MN:  21 degrees
Aitkin, MN:  21 degrees
Siren, WI:  21 degrees
Superior, WI:  25 degrees
Embarrass, MN:  15 degrees

Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Today’s Weather:

A ridge of high pressure averaging 1026 mb was beginning to push off to our north/east late Today.  This high kept our area precipitation free Today with some occasional cloudiness along with some sunshine.  Highs Today ranged from the middle to upper 30s from the Iron Range to the Arrowhead with 40s common for the rest of us.  Winds Today were variable in direction under 15 mph.

Today’s Upper Level Analysis:

Water vapor satellite imagery shows that a northwest flow aloft dominated the Upper Midwest on this last day of October.  An upper low/upper trough covered Central-Eastern Canada, south through the Upper Great Lakes, to the Northeast U.S.

Tonight through Monday Night:

High pressure will be centered to our north/east during this period with dry weather for our local area along with partial cloudiness at times.  Low temperatures Tonight and Monday Night will be in the 20s and 30s, but some teens are possible in the traditional cold spots.  Highs for Monday will be in the 40s to around 50 degrees.  Winds will be out of the south or southwest under 20 mph during this period.

Extended Forecast:

A cold front will push southeast across the Upper Midwest from late Tuesday through early Wednesday, this front combined with a 110+ knot mid/upper level jet stream blasting south/southeast out of the Northern Plains will support the risk for a few hours of rain showers in Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin from late Tuesday Afternoon through Tuesday Evening.  A breezy southwesterly wind will be in place out ahead of this boundary on Tuesday with wind gusts possibly exceeding 25 mph!  Highs on Tuesday will be in the 40s and 50s.  Winds will swing around to the northwest by Tuesday Night and Wednesday with cold advection developing from mid to late week as a very amplified weather pattern sets up across the U.S. thanks in part to a storm system affecting the Eastern U.S. later this week.  A northerly flow will develop across our area late this week while 850 mb temperatures drop to between -6/-12 degrees C.  Low temperatures Tuesday Night will be mainly in the 30s with high temperatures on Wednesday in the 30s and 40s with lows Wednesday Night in the 20s and 30s.

5 Day Forecast for Duluth/Superior

.Tonight…  Partly cloudy.  Low 25 to 30.  Wind variable around 12 mph or less.

.Monday…  Partly cloudy.  High 44 to 49.  Wind south to southwest at 10 to 15 mph. 

.Monday Night…  Partly cloudy.  Low 28 to 33.  Wind south to southwest at 5 to 15 mph.

.Tuesday…  Partly sunny.  High 47 to 52.

.Tuesday Night…  Variable cloudiness.  Showers possible.  Low 35 to 40.  Chance of rain 30%.

.Wednesday…  Variable cloudiness.  High 40 to 45.

.Wednesday Night…  Partly to mostly cloudy.  Low 30 to 35.

.Thursday…  Partly sunny.  High 38 to 43.

Normal temperatures for Today:

High:  44 degrees
Low:  28 degrees

Tim

Issued at 5:10 PM CDT, Saturday, October 30th, 2010

Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Today’s Weather:

An area of low pressure along with a cold front has pushed south/east out of our local area This Afternoon with high pressure pushing east out of the Northern Plains.  Partly to mostly cloudy skies with high temperatures generally in the 40s were found in our area Today with north, northwest, or east winds around 20 mph or less.

Today’s Upper Level Analysis:

Northwest 500 mb flow prevailed in the Upper Midwest Today in between an upper level low which was nearly stationary in Northeastern Canada and an upper level trough which was pushing east through the Western U.S. per water vapor satellite imagery.

Tonight through Sunday Night:

High pressure of 1020-1024 mb will move into the Upper Midwest through Sunday before it shifts slightly to our north/east for Sunday Night.  Dry weather is expected during this period with partly to mostly cloudy skies Tonight and early Sunday giving way to partly cloudy skies Tomorrow Afternoon and Night.  Low temperatures will be in the 20s and lower 30s Tonight and Tomorrow Night with some teens possible in the typical cold spots.  Highs Tomorrow will be mainly in the 40s, but a few 30s are possible in far Northeast Minnesota.  Winds will be out of the north under 20 mph Tonight and Tomorrow with variable winds under 15 mph Tomorrrow Night.

Extended Forecast:

Early next week continues to look dry for our area with high pressure to our east while a cold front moves southeast into the Upper Midwest on Tuesday.  This boundary will move through our local area sometime Tuesday Afternoon or Evening the way it looks now, for the most part this should be a dry frontal passage, although a few light rain showers can’t be ruled out in Northern Minnesota.  The upper level pattern will amplify from mid to late week as a storm system heads up the East Coast while a northerly flow aloft sets up across the Upper Midwest behind this weather system.  The mildest days should occur Monday and Tuesday with high temperatures in Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin in the 40s, maybe even some 50s on Tuesday.  Low temps will be mainly in the 30s Monday Night and Tuesday Night.  A cooler pattern is expected to develop between Wednesday and Friday of next week and there could even be a few rain and or snow showers at times next Wednesday or Thursday, but nothing significant is expected at this time.  The exception to this could be along the South Shore of Lake Superior from Bayfield to Ashland to Hurley where some light snow accumulations could develop sometime the middle or end of next week.

5 Day Forecast for Duluth/Superior

.Tonight…  Partly cloudy.  Low 25 to 30.  Wind north at 10 to 20 mph.

.Sunday…  Partly cloudy.  High 40 to 45.  Wind north to northwest at 10 to 15 mph.

.Sunday Night…  Mostly clear.  Low 25 to 30.  Wind variable at 5 to 15 mph.

.Monday…  Partly cloudy.  High 40 to 45.

.Monday Night…  Partly cloudy.  Low 28 to 33.

.Tuesday…  Partly sunny.  High 47 to 52.

.Tuesday Night…  Variable cloudiness.  Low 33 to 38.

.Wednesday…  Variable cloudiness.  High 40 to 45.

Normal temperatures for Tomorrow:

High:  44 degrees
Low:  28 degrees

Tim

Issued at 3:28 PM CDT, Friday, October 29th, 2010

Updated information regarding Tuesday’s historic storm…Source:  NWS Duluth, Minnesota.

The pressure at Bigfork, Minnesota has been adjusted up to 955.2 mb/28.21″/ as a result…Tuesday’s storm will go down as the 2nd strongest extratropical storm to ever affect the U.S according to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)  The strongest non-tropical storm in U.S. history occurred on January 3rd, 1913 with a pressure of 955.0 mb/28.20″/ at Canton, New York and on March 7th, 1932 at Block Island, Rhode Island.

Low temperature report for Friday, October 29th, 2010.  Source:  NWS Duluth, Minnesota.

Duluth, MN:  21 degrees
International Falls, MN:  21 degrees
Brainerd, MN:  23 degrees
Hibbing, MN:  19 degrees
Hayward, WI:  21 degrees
Sky Harbor Airport:  28 degrees
Bigfork, MN:  21 degrees
Pine River, MN:  21 degrees
Superior, WI:  25 degrees
Siren, WI:  23 degrees
Bruno, MN:  21 degrees
Cass Lake, MN:  21 degrees
Littlefork, MN:  23 degrees
Cook, MN:  23 degrees
Embarrass, MN:  16 degrees
3 miles east of Orr, MN:  19 degrees
Butternut, WI:  23 degrees
Upson, WI:  22 degrees
Gordon, WI:  22 degrees

Weather tidbits:

*This Morning’s low temperature of 21 degrees at Duluth, Minnesota was the first time since May 9th, 2010 with a minimum temperature lower than 25 degrees.

*38 degree high temperature on October 27th, 2010 at Duluth, Minnesota was the first time since May 7th, 2010 with a high temperature under 40 degrees.

*3.74″ of precipitation fell at Duluth, Minnesota during the period from October 23rd-27th.

*7.7″ of snow fell at Duluth, Minnesota on October 26th-27th…Both dates featured record 24 hour snowfall totals, and the 7.7″ snow total made it the 4th largest event for an October.

Month to date precipitation total at Duluth, Minnesota:  3.88″/1.63″ Above Normal.
Precipitation total since September 1st, 2010 at Duluth, Minnesota:  7.36″/0.98″ Above Normal.
Precipitation total since January 1st, 2010 at Duluth, Minnesota:  31.10″/3.37″ Above Normal.

Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Today’s Weather:

Skies were cloudier than expected Today with high temperatures in the upper 30s to middle 40s with southwest areas getting close to 50 degrees late Today.  Winds were out of the south or east under 15 mph.  Surface map at 3 PM CDT featured a broad area of low pressure averaging 1012 mb across the Northern Plains with a tight temperature gradient in place over the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.  Temperatures were in the lower 60s in Southwest Minnesota and parts of South Dakota Today while 30s and 40s were common around our area.  High pressure of 1016 mb was centered in Western Manitoba Province while a 1026 mb high was located near St. Louis Missouri.

Today’s Upper Level Analysis:

W/NW 500 mb flow covered the Upper Midwest Today per RUC model analysis with strong upper level winds >110 knots located to our N/NE and also from the Central Rockies, southwest to Central California.  A strong baroclinic zone has become established Today with late Afternoon 850 mb temperatures ranging from +14 degrees C in Southwest Minnesota to zero degrees C in Northeast Minnesota…while -8 degree C H85 temps covered Central Canada with +20 degree C 850 mb temps centered in the Western High Plains Today.

Tonight through Saturday Night:

An area of low pressure with it’s warm front and cold front will pass through the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest Tonight with high pressure building into the area Tomorrow and Tomorrow Night.  Patchy light showers of rain and or snow are possible Tonight and early Tomorrow in extreme Northern Minnesota, otherwise expect generally dry conditions through this period.  Low temperatures will be in the 20s and 30s Tonight and Saturday Night with highs Tomorrow mainly in the 40s, but some areas N/NE of the Iron Range could remain in the mid-upper 30s.

Extended Forecast:

Mainly dry conditions are expected for Sunday and Monday as high pressure moves through the Upper Midwest.  High temperatures will be mainly in the 40s both Sunday and Monday with lows in the 20s and lower 30s.  A cold front moving through our local area around the middle of next week could bring a few rain or snow showers to our area, but other than that not much precipitation is expected through next week the way it looks now.

5 Day Forecast for Duluth/Superior

.Tonight…  Mostly cloudy.  Low 28 to 33.  Wind east to southeast around 12 mph, becoming north to northeast late.

.Saturday…  Partly sunny.  High 40 to 45.  Wind north at 10 to 20 mph.

.Saturday Night…  Partly cloudy.  Low 25 to 30.  Wind north to northwest at 10 to 20 mph.

.Sunday…  Mostly sunny.  High 40 to 45.

.Sunday Night…  Partly cloudy.  Low 25 to 30.

.Monday…  Partly cloudy.  High 40 to 45.

.Monday Night…  Partly cloudy.  Low 28 to 33.

.Tuesday…  Partly cloudy.  High 43 to 48.

Normal temperatures for Today:

High:  46 degrees
Low:  29 degrees

Tim

Issued at 4:06 PM CDT, Thursday, October 28th, 2010

All headlines issued by the National Weather Service Duluth, Minnesota.

*Flood Advisory*

*A small stream flood advisory remains in effect until 3:15 PM CDT Friday, October 29th, 2010 for Carlton and Pine counties Minnesota and for Douglas county Wisconsin. 

*As a result of the excessive rainfall from the recent weather system…rivers…streams…and ditches continue to run high or were over their banks leading to some flooding.  As of Thursday Afternoon the following reports have been received.  Carlton county sheriff reported that Cartwright Road in Cloquet, Minnesota is still closed due to flooding and that some culverts may be flooded along the Moose Horn River.  Barnum City Park remains under water.  Pine county sheriff reported that Rush Boulevard in the Hogans Acres Subdivision…southeast of Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota is washed out.  Access to residences along Cathedral Pines Drive in Sturgeon Lake is impacted due to flooding.  Low lying areas adjacent to the Moose Horn River…The Kettle River…and it’s tributaries will continue to be impacted.  River levels have crested but will remain high.  In Douglas county the Nemadji River crested last night however the river level remains high.

*Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause elevated levels on small creeks and streams…and ponding of water on country roads and farmland along the banks of creeks and streams.

…Record Event…Source:  NWS Duluth, Minnesota.

*The 7.7″ of snow that fell at Duluth, Minnesota on the 26th-27th was the 4th greatest snowfall during the month of October.

1st place:  11.5″  October 23rd-25th, 1933.
2nd place:   8.0″   October 23rd, 1995.
3rd place:   7.9″   October 27th-28th, 1966.

Record 24 hour snowfall total at Duluth, Minnesota:

4.3″ of snow fell on Wednesday, October 27th, 2010 which broke the previous 24 hour snowfall record of 4.0″ which was set in 2003.

Precipitation report from 7 AM CDT Wednesday through 7 AM CDT Thursday.  Source:  NWS Duluth, Minnesota.

International Falls, MN:  0.23″
Brainerd, MN:  0.15″
Hayward, WI:  0.21″
Crane Lake, MN:  0.20″
Siren, WI:  0.15″
Bruno, MN:  0.17″
3 miles east of Wright, MN:  0.40″
Northome, MN:  0.30″
Cook, MN:  0.24″
Grand Rapids, MN:  0.26″
Kabetogama, MN:  0.35″
3 miles east of Orr, MN:  0.30″
Silver Bay, MN:  0.34″
2 miles south of Tower, MN:  0.25″
Butternut, WI:  0.46″
Upson, WI:  0.26″
Danbury, WI:  0.24″

Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Today’s Weather:

Strong high pressure ridge of 1028-1034 mb covered the Northern and Central Plains Today while the historic storm from Tuesday/Wednesday moves into Northeastern Canada.  A tight pressure gradient continued between the sub 1000 mb low in Northeast Canada and the high off to our west/southwest which resulted in another day of brisk northwest winds of 10-25 mph with a few higher gusts.  Very cool temperatures have invaded the Upper Midwest Today on the backside of the storm, highs Today were only in the 30s to around 40 degrees.  Mostly cloudy skies earlier in the day has given way to increasing amounts of sun, especially in western/southwest parts of our area.  Any lingering flurries or sprinkles were confined to the Morning hours.

Today’s Upper Level Analysis:

Northwest flow aloft was in place over the Upper Midwest per water vapor satellite imagery while an upper level trough pushes east through the Great Lakes and Central Canada.

Tonight through Friday Night:

A ridge of high pressure will cover the Plains and Upper Midwest Tonight which combined with decreasing winds and clearing skies will result in a cold fall night.  Low temperatures will drop into the 20s for most areas, but some teens are possible in the traditional cold spots.  Friday and Friday Night will feature partly cloudy skies with winds turning to the southwest on Friday as high pressure shifts off to our south/east.  Winds Friday Night will turn northwest as a weak cold front passes through our area.  High temperatures on Friday should get into the 40s for most areas with lows Friday Night in the 20s and 30s.

Extended Forecast:

Quiet weather is expected for Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin from Saturday through Monday.  High temperatures for Saturday and Sunday will be mainly in the 40s with low temperatures both nights in the 20s and lower 30s.

5 Day Forecast for Duluth/Superior

.Tonight…  Becoming partly cloudy.  Low 21 to 25 Inland and from 25 to 30 closer to Lake Superior.  Wind northwest at 10 to 20 mph.

.Friday…  Mostly sunny.  High 40 to 45.  Wind southwest at 10 to 15 mph.

.Friday Night…  Partly cloudy.  Low 28 to 33.  Wind becoming west to northwest at 10 to 15 mph.

.Saturday…  Partly cloudy.  High 40 to 45.

.Saturday Night…  Partly cloudy.  Low 25 to 30.

.Sunday…  Partly cloudy.  High 40 to 45.

.Sunday Night…  Partly cloudy.  Low 25 to 30.

.Monday…  Partly sunny.  High 40 to 45.

Normal temperatures for Today:

High:  46 degrees
Low:  30 degrees

Tim

Issued at 3:14 PM CDT, Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Weather tidbits:

*Barometric pressure dropped under 29.00″ at the Duluth Airport between 2-3 AM Tuesday Morning, October 26th, 2010.  It stayed below 29.00″ until 2 PM CDT Today, October 27th, 2010.

Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Today’s Weather:

Deep low pressure (974 mb) has moved into Central Ontario Province as of 2 PM Today.  Gusty northwest, west, or southwest winds continued across our local area Today with wind speeds of 10-25 mph along with some higher gusts.  Cloudy skies with areas of light rain or snow also occurred in our area Today on the backside of this historic storm.  High temperatures Today were generally in the middle 30s to lower 40s with wind chills dropping into the 20s at times.

Today’s Upper Level Analysis:

Powerful surface and upper level area of low pressure covered Central Canada with an upper level trough over the Upper Midwest Today per water vapor satellite imagery and RUC model analysis…A strong upper level jet stream >120 knots was in place in the Central Plains Today.

Tonight:

Strong low pressure will continue to lift northeast reaching Southern Hudson Bay Canada Overnight.  Expect mostly cloudy skies to continue in our area with some lingering showers/drizzle which will mix with and change to snow at times, any accumulations should remain under an inch.  Low temperatures will be in the 20s and 30s with increasing winds out of the west or northwest at 15 to 30 mph with gusts possibly reaching 40 mph during the night as the 850 mb jet increases once again to between 40-55 knots.

Thursday and Thursday Night:

Low pressure moves into Northeast Canada while high pressure centers itself to our southwest.  A chilly, but mainly dry period is in store for our area Tomorrow and Tomorrow Night with highs in the 30s to around 40 degrees with lows in the 20s and lower 30s, but a few locales could slip into the teens.  Winds will be out of the northwest at 10-25 mph with a few higher gusts on Thursday, winds will decrease to under 20 mph Thursday Night.

Extended Forecast:

Looks like a relatively quiet weather pattern for the Upper Midwest from Friday through early next week.  There will be a low pressure system developing over the Central Plains this weekend, but right now it looks like it will remain far enough to our south/southeast to cause any precipitation in our local area.  High temperatures will be mainly in the 40s in Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin for Friday and Saturday with low temperatures both nights in the 20s and lower 30s.

5 Day Forecast for Duluth/Superior

.Tonight…  Windy.  Overcast with areas of light rain and drizzle which will mix with and change to light snow and flurries at times, especially away from Lake Superior.  Low 27 to 32 Inland and 32 to 34 closer to Lake Superior.  Wind west at 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph developing during the night.

.Thursday…  Breezy.  Partly sunny.  High 35 to 40.  Wind northwest at 15 to 25 mph.

.Thursday Night…  Mostly clear.  Low 22 to 27.  Wind northwest at 10 to 15 mph.

.Friday…  Partly cloudy.  High 40 to 45.

.Friday Night…  Partly cloudy.  Low 28 to 33.

.Saturday…  Partly cloudy.  High 45 to 50.

.Saturday Night…  Partly cloudy.  Low 25 to 30.

.Sunday…  Partly cloudy.  High 40 to 45.

Normal temperatures for Today:

High:  47
Low:  30

Tim