Issued at 8:03 PM CST, Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010
A very snowy winter so far at Duluth, Minnesota.
51.5″ of snow has fallen at Duluth, Minnesota through December 21st, 2010 which is 24.8″ above normal. This is the 5th highest total to date and is 193% of the normal value or nearly twice the amount that Duluth would normal have through December 21st.
Here are the top 5 snowiest seasons through December 21st. Source: NWS Duluth, Minnesota.
1: 69.7″/1991
2: 69.5″/1983
3: 54.7″/1950
4: 52.3″/1995
5: 51.5″/2010
Two day precipitation/snowfall total at Duluth, Minnesota:
December 20th-21st, 2010: 0.75″/11.8″
Weather History:
On this date in 1989 and 1983 a record low temperature of -22 degrees occurred at Duluth, Minnesota.
Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin
Today’s Weather:
Partly sunny to mostly cloudy skies prevailed across our area Today with some scattered flurries at times. Highs were on the mild side for the time of year with 20s and lower 30s along with north or northwest winds under 20 mph.
Today’s Upper Level Analysis:
Blocking pattern was redeveloping as an upper level low begins to move west through Eastern Canada, a NW 500mb flow was in place across our area Today while an upper level ridge covered the Plains out ahead of a deep 500mb trough which was in place across the Western U.S. per water vapor satellite imagery and RUC model analysis.
Tonight through Thursday Night:
High pressure will be centered to our northwest during this period while a disturbance with some snow passes S/SE out of the Northern Plains. A few flurries are possible at times in Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin, otherwise expect partly to mostly cloudy skies with lows single digits to around 10 above zero Tonight and Thursday Night with a few locales possibly dropping into the single digits below zero if skies manage to clear out for a few hours. Highs on Thursday will be in the teens and 20s. Northerly winds under 20 mph will occur through this period.
Extended Forecast:
A rather quiet weather pattern is on tap for our local area from Friday into early next week with the only exception to this being along the South Shore of Lake Superior where northerly winds will cause occasional lake effect snow showers with some accumulation expected this weekend. High temperatures for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Friday-Saturday) will be in the teens and 20s with low temperatures in the single digits below to above zero both nights.
Looking ahead into the early to middle part of next week features near to above normal temperatures with no significant precipitation…This could all change by late week or next weekend as all 4 GFS model runs Today have cranked out one heck of a storm for the Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes sometime during the December 30th-January 3rd time frame. Blizzard, heavy rain, perhaps some severe weather will be a threat if this storm develops… A few of the GFS model runs Today have the low tracking right up through Central Minnesota which would pull warm enough air into portions of Minnesota to produce a snow/rain mix, or even a scenario where snow turns to rain sometime during the event. This storm from a GFS model perspective has some similar looking characteristics to the Christmas storm of 2009. It should also be noted that even before Today, some past runs per GFS model has shown a storm taking shape over the Plains around New Years so this period has to be watched during the next several days. Note: The EURO model has no signs of a storm for late next week with it’s 00z/12z run Today, but since this is over a week away it’s not surprising that the models have these differences and one thing is certain and it’s that there will likely be fluctuations within the models on the track, strength, and timing of the possible storm for late next week.
5 Day Forecast for Duluth/Superior
.Tonight… Considerable cloudiness. Low 3 to 8. Wind north to northwest at 5 to 15 mph.
.Thursday… Partly sunny. High 18 to 23. Wind north at 5 to 15 mph.
.Thursday Night… Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 3 to 8. Wind north to northwest at 5 to 15 mph.
.Christmas Eve… Partly sunny. High 17 to 22.
.Friday Night… Partly cloudy. Low 2 to 7.
.Christmas Day… Partly cloudy. High 15 to 20.
.Saturday Night… Partly cloudy. Low zero to 5 above.
.Sunday… Partly cloudy. High 16 to 21.
Normal temperatures for Tomorrow:
High: 20 degrees
Low: 3 degrees
Tim
Leave a Reply