Issued at 3:48 PM CST, Monday, January 31st, 2011
A narrow band of heavy lake effect snow affected parts of the Twin Ports early This Morning. Snowfall totals as is usually the case with lake effect events varied widely within very short distances, in this instance around 3.0″ was reported in West Duluth, while 6-8 miles off to the east…snowfall totals of 7-9+” were reported. A similar freak lake effect snow event occurred on December 4th, 2007, but that one targeted the West End and West Duluth areas more than other parts of Duluth, 12-18″ of snow was reported with that lake effect snow storm.
Here are some snowfall reports from Monday, January 31st, 2011: Source: NWS Duluth, Minnesota.
Duluth, MN (St. Louis county) 7.0″ measured at Sky Harbor Airport at 9:30 AM CST.
Park Point (St. Louis county) 7.5″ measured at 17th street and Minnesota Ave. at 9:15 AM CST.
Park Point (St. Louis county) 9.0″ measured at the intersection of 36th Ave and Minnesota Ave at 8:00 AM CST, the snow began before 3:00 AM CST.
Duluth, MN (St. Louis county) 4.0″ measured at the Coast Guard station on 12th and Minnesota Ave.
Duluth, MN (St. Louis county) 4.0″ measured at the Park Point Fire station on 21st and Minnesota Ave.
West Duluth, MN (St. Louis county) 3.1″
Superior, WI (Douglas county) 4.0″ measured at 1:35 PM CST.
2 miles east of Superior, WI (Douglas county) 8.0″ measured at 1:35 PM CST.
Note: Additional snow has fallen This Afternoon which may add to the totals listed above.
*WIND CHILL ADVISORY*
The National Weather Service in Duluth, Minnesota has issued a wind chill advisory from Midnight CST Tonight until 9 AM CST Tuesday for the following counties in Minnesota: Koochiching…Itasca…Cass…Crow Wing…Northern Aitkin…St. Louis…Lake…and Cook. Some cities included in the advisory are: International Falls, MN…Bigfork, MN…Grand Rapids, MN…Cass Lake, MN…Walker, MN…Brainerd, MN…Hill City, MN…Duluth, MN…Hibbing, MN…Ely, MN…Two Harbors, MN…Silver Bay, MN…Finland, MN…and Grand Marais, MN.
Impacts: Wind chill values of 15 below to 35 below late Tonight and Tuesday Morning, coldest values will be north and northeast of the Iron Range. Frostbite times in a half hour or less will occur under these conditions.
A wind chill advisory means a combination of bitterly cold arctic air and brisk winds will create dangerously cold wind chill values. If you must venture outdoors be sure to cover all exposed flesh as any exposed flesh can freeze in 15 to 25 minutes with wind chill values from 25 below to 40 below. This may result in frost bite and hypothermia if precautions are not taken.
Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin
Today’s Weather:
Strong arctic high pressure 1048mb was building S/SE from Western Canada late Today while an epic winter storm takes shape with low pressure of 1002mb centered near Del Rio, Texas as of 3 PM. A weaker disturbance has been dropping southeast out of the Northern Plains and this feature has been producing widespread and persistent light snow and flurries Today generally south of the Iron Range. Heavier lake effect snow showers have been occurring since early This Morning across portions of Northern Douglas and extreme Southeastern St. Louis counties, into Eastern Carlton county with sustanial snow accumulations reported especially near the immediate lakeshore. High temperatures Today ranged from the single digits in Northern Minnesota to the teens elsewhere. Winds were out of the north or northeast under 20 mph.
Today’s Upper Level Analysis:
H5 trough was digging south out of the Northern Rockies per water vapor satellite imagery while a seperate H5 low/trough heads east out of the Southwest U.S. A strong upper level jet 120 knots or greater was found over the Pacific Northwest and from Northern Mexico to Western Texas per RUC model analysis. A brief shift in the 500mb pattern took place Today with a southwesterly flow covering the Upper Midwest as this complex storm system deepens and begins to phase. Note: Parts of 6 states…Including Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana are under Blizzard Warnings while Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories stretch from New Mexico, through the Midwest, to the Northeast U.S. all due to this historic winter storm that is taking shape Today.
Tonight:
Partly to mostly cloudy skies will cover our local area with strong arctic high pressure >1050mb moving into the Northern Rockies. Light snow and flurries south of the Iron Range will end from northwest to southeast This Evening. Some locations could see up to an inch of additional snow accumulation before Midnight. Localized heavy lake effect snow showers will persist This Evening in Douglas county Wisconsin, generally just south-east of the city of Superior…Additional snow accumulations could reach 6″ in that area. Lows Tonight will be in the single digits below to single digits above zero with minus teens and perhaps a few minus 20s in Northern Minnesota. Note: Low temperatures Sunday Night ranged from -18 degrees at International Falls to -17 degrees at Crane Lake to -15 degrees at Kabetogama. North or northeast winds will continue under 20 mph Tonight. Wind chill values of 15 below to 35 below zero are expected to develop late Tonight with the coldest readings north of Highway 2 in Minnesota.
Note: Lake Effect Snow Warning remains in effect until 9 PM CST This Evening for Douglas county Wisconsin with the heaviest snow accumulations expected to occur just outside of the city of Superior. South Superior, South Range and the Highway 13 route through Northern Douglas county will be impacted the greatest by heavy lake effect snow showers This Evening. Snowfall rates could reach one inch an hour at times through mid-Evening.
Tuesday and Tuesday Night:
Arctic high pressure of 1050-1055mb will continue to build south/southeast out of the Northern Rockies will strong low pressure of around 995mb tracks northeast out of Eastern Texas, toward Central Indiana by dawn Wednesday. Northerly winds and cold temperatures will be common throughout our area during this period with partly to mostly cloudy skies on Tuesday and partly cloudy skies Tuesday Night. Lake effect snow showers or flurries are possible Tomorrow and Tomorrow Night along the South Shore of Lake Superior with a couple inches of accumulation possible. Highs on Tuesday will be in the single digits to lower teens with lows Tuesday Night in the single digits, teens, and 20s below. Winds will be out of the north under 20 mph during this period.
Extended Forecast:
Dry weather is expected for Wednesday and Wednesday Night with highs in the single digits and teens with lows in the single digits below to single digits above zero. The period from Thursday through the upcoming weekend looks unsettled at times as some disturbances and clipper type systems pass through the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Any one of those features could trigger periods of snow showers and flurries. High temperatures on Thursday will be in the teens and 20s with lows Thursday Night generally in the teens.
5 Day Forecast for Duluth/Superior
*WIND CHILL ADVISORY* for St. Louis county including the city of Duluth
Timing: 12 AM CST Tonight until 9 AM CST Tuesday.
*LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING* for Douglas county including the city of Superior
Timing: Until 9 PM CST Tonight.
.Tonight… Considerable cloudiness with light snow and flurries, additional accumulations less than one inch. Occasional heavy lake effect snow showers lingering This Evening, especially just south-southeast of Superior with additional accumulations up to 6″. Low zero to 5 below. Wind north to northeast at 10 to 20 mph. Wind chill values 15 below to 25 below.
.Tuesday… Partly sunny. High 5 to 10. Wind north at 10 to 20 mph. Morning wind chill values from 15 below to 25 below.
.Tuesday Night… Partly cloudy. Low 10 below to 15 below. Wind northwest at 5 to 15 mph.
.Wednesday… Partly cloudy. High 10 to 15.
.Wednesday Night… Partly to mostly cloudy. Low zero to 5 above.
.Thursday… Mostly cloudy. Flurries or snow showers possible. High 15 to 20.
.Thursday Night… Considerable cloudiness. Flurries possible. Low 12 to 17.
.Friday… Considerable cloudiness. Flurries possible. High 25 to 30.
Normal temperatures Today
High: 20
Low: 1
Sunrise Tomorrow: 7:33 AM CST
Sunset Tomorrow: 5:12 PM CST
Tim
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