Monthly Archives: October 2012

Issued 3:48 PM CDT, Wednesday, October 31st, 2012

*The Climate Prediction Center released their updated outlook for November 2012.  A wetter than average month ahead for Minnesota and Wisconsin? Keep in mind that Duluth’s average snowfall for November is 13.7″ and the average precipitation is 2.09″.

*The updated temperature outlook for November 2012 calls for an equal chance of above, below, or normal temperatures in Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin.  (CPC)

A very cold Halloween Morning in the Northland

Low temperature report for October 31, 2012
Source:  National Weather Service Duluth, MN

International Falls, MN:  12F
Hibbing, MN:  13F
Crane Lake, MN:  12F
Ely, MN:  12F
Cook, MN:  10F
Bigfork, MN:  12F
Superior, WI:  14F
Siren, WI:  14F
Babbitt, MN:  8F
Embarrass, MN:  10F
3 E of Orr, MN:  13F

Weather Tidbits:

*Will October go down as the 1st month since June 2011 with a below average monthly temperature at Duluth, Minnesota?  Seems pretty likely that it will, but going into Today the average monthly temperature for October was just 0.7 degrees below normal.

*The water temperature at the Duluth-Superior Harbor was 44.4F on this last day of October.

Today’s Weather Summary for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Temperatures warmed nicely This Afternoon considering how cold it was to start the day.  High temperatures were mainly in the 40s with winds out of the north or west at 5 to 15 mph.  Skies were partly cloudy to sunny.

Today’s Upper Level Analysis:

RAP model analysis and water vapor satellite imagery shows a NW flow covering the Upper Midwest with upper troughs to our east and over the Northeast Pacific.  850mb temperatures as of 3 PM ranged from 0 to -2C in Northeast Minnesota to +2 to +6C in Western, Central, and Southern Minnesota.

Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Tonight (October 31st)

A cold front will drop SE and pass through the Northland during the night.  Clear to partly cloudy skies are expected with lows in the 20s and 30s.  Winds will be out of the west or northwest at 10 to 20 mph.

Thursday and Thursday Night (November 1st)

Cooler air invades the area during this period with highs Tomorrow in the 30s to around 40 degrees.  Lows Tomorrow Night will be in the teens and 20s.  Clear to partly cloudy skies should continue this period with winds out of the north or west at 10 to 20 mph.

Note:  There could be a few snow flurries late Tonight into Thursday Morning, mainly in extreme Northern Minnesota.

Extended Forecast, Friday through Sunday (November 2nd-4th)

A mid/upper level area of low pressure is forecast to drop SE out of the Northern Plains between Friday and early Sunday.  This system doesn’t look to have much moisture associated with it, but there still could be some light snow or mixed rain/snow in portions of Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin, especially from Friday Night into early Sunday.  High temperatures will be in the 30s to around 40 degrees from Friday through Sunday.  Low temperatures Friday Night and Saturday Night will be in the 20s to lower 30s.

*The HPC is quite aggressive with the amount of snow that may come down Friday Night-Saturday in North Central Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin.  A slight risk for at least 4″ of snow in the blue outlined area.  Not really buying into this solution at this time.

Long Range Forecast (November 5th-10th)

A strong area of low pressure will pass through Central Canada from the 5th-7th, a cold front attached to this low will sweep through the area sometime early next week, a few showers of rain or snow can’t be ruled out as this front moves through.  The period from November 9-10, including a few days beyond this period could feature a stronger storm system coming out of the Western U.S.  The long range computer models for the 2nd day in a row continue to show a pattern that may be favorable for a more organized storm, but of course the exact track/timing/strength remains uncertain this far out in time.  Stay tuned!  Temperatures from November 5-10 are forecast to be near to slightly above normal.

5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH/SUPERIOR

.Tonight…  Partly cloudy.  Low 27 to 32.  Wind west at 10 to 20 mph.

.Thursday…  Partly cloudy.  High 37 to 42.  Wind northwest at 15 to 20 mph.

.Thursday Night…  Mostly clear.  Low 20 to 25.  Wind north to northwest at 10 to 15 mph.

.Friday…  Partly to mostly sunny.  High 38 to 43.

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

.Saturday…  Considerable cloudiness.  High 35 to 40.

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

.Sunday…  Partly sunny.  High 38 to 43.

Normal temperatures for Today

High:  44
Low:  30

Sunrise Thursday:  7:52 AM CDT
Sunset Thursday:   5:52 PM CDT

Tim

Suncast GS9500A STORAGE BUILDING 7 ft.X 7 ft. – Pack of 1 (Google Affiliate Ad)

Issued 4:18 PM CDT, Tuesday, October 30th, 2012

Note:  5.9% of the U.S. is covered by snow as of October 30th, 2012.  At this time last year, 7.4% of the U.S. was covered by snow.  (NOHRSC)

Hurricane/Super Storm Sandy tidbits:
Source:  MPR Updraft Blog

-Over 8 million without power.  2.4 million in New Jersey alone.

-Major damage on each of the New Jersey major rail lines.

-Unprecedented devastation along the Jersey Shore according to New Jersey governor Chris Christie.

-As Sandy made landfall Monday Evening it’s pressure was 946mb which tied with the Great Long Island Express Hurricane of 1938 for most powerful storm in the Northeast U.S., North of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

-This was New York City’s worst hurricane (dating back to 1624)

-A 9 foot storm surge rode in on top of the high tide Monday Evening with water levels of 13.88 feet at the Battery.  This smashed the previous high water record of 11.2 feet set in 1821 (The Great Hurricane)

-Sandy’s pressure of 940mb made it the lowest observed barometric pressure north of the Carolinas.

-Damage estimates from superstorm Sandy will likely end up in the tens of billions dollar range, and will likely be 1 of the top 5 most expensive disasters in U.S. history.

*All-time low pressure records were set at the following locations on October 29, 2012*
Source:  MPR/Updraft blog.  Weatherunderground.

Atlantic City, New Jersey:  28.01″
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:  28.23″
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania:  28.46″
Scranton, Pennsylvania:  28.69″
Trenton, New Jersey:  28.31″
Baltimore, Maryland:  28.49″

*Rainfall totals ending at 10 AM CDT, October 30th, 2012*
Source:  HPC

Washington D.C./National:  4.66″
Dover AFB:  8.51″
Baltimore/Washington International Airport:  6.51″
Cleveland:  4.07″

Note:  What made Hurricane Sandy so unique was that it also produced a major blizzard in the mountains out east. 

Here are some snowfall totals through 10 AM CDT, October 30th, 2012
Source:  HPC

3 S of Lynch, Kentucky:  12.0″
Roadhouse, Maryland:  26.0″
Garrett, Maryland:  26.0″
Davis, West Virginia:  23.0″
3 SE of Morgantown, West Virginia:  12.0″

*Wind gusts from Monday, October 29th, 2012*
Source:  HPC

Islip, New York:  90 mph
2 N of Tompkinsville, New Jersey:  90 mph
Sandy Hook, New Jersey:  81 mph
JFK (New York)  79 mph
Newark, New Jersey:  78 mph
Atlantic City:  77 mph

Today’s Weather Summary for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Partly sunny to sunny skies prevailed Today with highs in the upper 30s and 40s.  Winds were out of the north or east at 5 to 15 mph with gusts to 20-25 mph, mainly in Northwest Wisconsin.

Today’s Upper Level Analysis:

A large upper trough covered the Eastern U.S., and Central/Eastern Great Lakes per water vapor satellite imagery with a west-northwest flow in place across the Upper Midwest.  850mb temperatures as of 4 PM ranged from 0 to -2C in Minnesota.

Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Tonight (October 30th)

High pressure will keep things quiet and cool in the Northland.  Clear to partly cloudy skies are forecast with lows in the 20s to around 30 degrees, but some spots will likely dip into the teens.  North, east, or west winds are expected at 5 to 15 mph.

Halloween Day and Night (October 31st)

No issues with the weather for this Halloween.  Dry, under clear to partly cloudy skies.  Highs Tomorrow will be in the 30s and 40s with lows Tomorrow Night in the 20s and 30s.  Winds will be out of the north or west at 10 to 15 mph.

Extended Forecast, Thursday through Saturday (November 1st-3rd)

Calm weather conditions should carry over into Thursday.  Then Friday and Saturday could feature some light snow or rain as low pressure passes well to our south, but an upper level low combined with an inverted trough swinging through the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest could bring some light precipitation to our area, especially from late Friday into Saturday.  High temperatures from Thursday through Saturday are forecast to be in the 30s to lower 40s.  Low temperatures Thursday Night will be in the teens and 20s with 20s and lower 30s for Saturday Night.

Long Range Forecast (November 4th-9th)

A strong area of low pressure will track through Central Canada between Monday/Tuesday (5th-6th) A cold front attached to this low is expected to pass through the Upper Midwest early next week, this front should come through dry.  By late next week there are some trends showing up per long range model guidance for a stronger weather system to take shape across the Western U.S., this system may have some impact on our weather toward next weekend (10th-11th) Stay tuned!  Near to slightly above normal temperatures are expected from 11.4-11.9

5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH/SUPERIOR

.Tonight…  Mostly clear.  Low 21 to 26.  Wind northeast at 5 to 15 mph.

.Halloween…  Mostly sunny.  High 40 to 45.  Wind north to northwest at 10 to 20 mph.

.Trick or Treat Forecast:  Mostly clear skies between 4 PM-10 PM with temperatures in the 30s to around 40 degrees.  Winds from the north-northwest at 5 to 15 mph.

.Wednesday Night…  Mostly clear.  Low 25 to 30.  Wind northwest at 5 to 15 mph.

.Thursday…  Partly sunny.  High 38 to 43.

.Thursday Night…  Partly cloudy.  Low 22 to 27.

.Friday…  Increasing cloudiness.  High 38 to 43.

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

.Saturday…  Considerable cloudiness.  High 35 to 40.

Normal temperatures for Today

High:  45
Low:  30

Sunrise Wednesday:  7:50 AM CDT
Sunset Wednesday:   5:54 PM CDT

Tim

Issued 3:51 PM CDT, Monday, October 29th, 2012

*Gigantic Hurricane Sandy nearing landfall as of 4 PM Today.  The latest advisory out of the National Hurricane Center indicates a 940mb pressure or 27.76″  with winds of 90 mph.  Movement was toward the west-northwest at 28 mph.  The center of Sandy was 30 miles east-southeast of Cape May New Jersey or about 40 miles south of Atlantic City New Jersey.

*Here’s a color enhanced satellite imagery of Hurricane Sandy.  This image was from 11:45 AM CDT Today.  (NOAA)

High temperature report for Duluth, Minnesota (Airport location)

October 21-27, 2012:

10/21:  56F/7 degrees above average
10/22:  52F/3 degrees above average
10/23:  49F/1 degree above average
10/24:  57F/9 degrees above average
10/25:  44F/3 degrees below average
10/26:  38F/9 degrees below average
10/27:  40F/6 degrees below average

Low temperature report for Duluth, Minnesota (Airport location)

October 21-27, 2012:

10/21:  38F/5 degrees above average
10/22:  45F/12 degrees above average
10/23:  45F/12 degrees above average
10/24:  44F/12 degrees above average
10/25:  32F/Normal
10/26:  26F/6 degrees below average

*Temperature departure map for last week.  Duluth saw temperatures around 1 degree above average for the entire week.

Precipitation total for 10/21-10/27:  0.57″
Average:  0.56″
Departure from average:  +0.01″

*Most of Minnesota and Wisconsin had a wet week last week with precipitation totals running anywhere from 125 to 300% above what the average would be from 10/21-10/27.

*Snowfall report for October 28, 2012*
Source:  National Weather Service Duluth, Minnesota

St. Louis County:

Embarrass, MN:  2.5″
Ely, MN:  1.8″
Cook, MN:  1.0″

Itasca County:

Marcell, MN:  4.0″
Grand Rapids, MN:  3.5″
Keewatin, MN:  2.1″

*Snowfall map for Saturday Night-Sunday October 27-28, 2012.

Today’s Weather Summary for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

All is quiet in the Northland Today as skies were partly to mostly cloudy, highs were in the 40s which is pretty close to normal for late October.  Winds were out of the east at 5 to 15 mph.

*Visible satellite imagery of Hurricane Sandy from 3:45 PM Today.  (NOAA)

Today’s Upper Level Analysis:

A west-northwest flow is in place over the Upper Midwest as Hurricane Sandy heads west toward New Jersey and Delaware per water vapor satellite imagery and RAP model analysis.  Very impressive height falls of 150-210 meters were occurring Today as an upper trough begins to absorb Hurricane Sandy in the Northeast U.S.  850mb temperatures as of 3 PM ranged from 0 to -4C in Minnesota.

*12 hour GOES East water vapor satellite imagery.  A blocking pattern northeast of Sandy forced it to make a left turn Today, it couldn’t keep moving north due to the block northeast of the hurricane.

 Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Tonight through Tuesday Night (October 29th-30th)

Strong high pressure averaging 1030mb will remain nearly stationary to our north which will keep things mainly dry in our area with partly to mostly cloudy skies.  Lows Tonight and Tomorrow Night will be in the 20s and 30s with highs Tomorrow in the 30s and 40s.  Winds are expected to be out of the north or east at 5 to 15 mph with gusts over 20 mph possible, especially near Lake Superior and in Northwest Wisconsin.

*Hazards map per NOAA.  Wind Warnings and Advisories stretch from Maine to far Eastern Wisconsin through the Ohio Valley, and down into the Southeast U.S. all because of Hurricane Sandy.  Gale and Storm Warnings are in effect for the Great Lakes, also associated with Hurricane Sandy.  Incredible!

*12z NAM 850mb wind forecast valid for 7 AM Tuesday.  Yes, the western fringes of Hurricane Sandy will reach as far west as Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois with increasing northerly winds by late Tonight and lingering into early Wednesday.  Wind gusts of 45-60 mph are possible in those areas I mentioned above.

Extended Forecast, Wednesday through Friday (October 31st-November 2nd)

Just a small chance of a shower or two on Halloween, mainly affecting Western portions of the area, otherwise this period looks dry.  High temperatures will remain in the 30s and 40s from Wednesday through Friday.  Low temperatures Wednesday Night and Thursday Night are forecast to mainly be in the 20s.

Long Range Forecast (November 3rd-8th)

A few showers are possible this weekend in Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin as low pressure and an inverted type trough moves across the Northern/Central Plains and Upper Midwest.  Another threat for rain or snow exists between November 6th-8th.  Temperatures are forecast to be near to a little above average through this period.

5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH/SUPERIOR

.Tonight…  Partly to mostly cloudy.   Low 28 to 33.  Wind east at 5 to 15 mph.

.Tuesday…  Partly cloudy.  High 40 to 45.  Wind east to northeast at 10 to 20 mph.

.Tuesday Night…  Partly cloudy.  Low 25 to 30.  Wind north to northwest at 10 to 15 mph.

.Halloween…  Partly cloudy.  High 40 to 45.

.Wednesday Night…  Partly to mostly cloudy.  Low 25 to 30.

.Thursday…  Partly sunny.  High 40 to 45.

.Thursday Night…  Partly cloudy.  Low 22 to 27.

.Friday…  Partly cloudy.  High 40 to 45.

Normal temperatures for Today

High:  45
Low:  30

Sunrise Tuesday:  7:49 AM CDT
Sunset Tuesday:   5:55 PM CDT

Tim

Issued at 4:29 PM CDT, Saturday, October 27th, 2012

*Surface map from 26 October 2010.  A record-setting 955mb surface low in Northern Minnesota, near Bigfork.  Source:  National Weather Service Duluth, MN.

Weather Rewind:

-Remembering the great storm of October 2010.  A powerful fall storm with record low barometric pressure readings affected much of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes in late October 2010.  Intense winds, very heavy rain, and significant amounts of snow accompanied this massive storm.

Note:  At Duluth, Minnesota:  The precipitation total from October 23-27, 2010 was 3.74″.  Total snowfall was 7.7″.

*Regional impacts from the Great storm of October 2010.  Source:  National Weather Service Duluth, Minnesota.

*An incredible satellite image capturing this massive storm which hit 2 years ago on October 26-27.  Source:  National Weather Service Duluth, MN.

Weather Tidbits:

*Friday’s high temperature of 38F at Duluth, Minnesota was the coldest maximum temperature since April 21st when the high was 37F.

*Month to date precipitation total at Duluth, Minnesota:  1.33″ which is 1.14″ below average.  October 2012 will likely end up as the 4th consecutive month with below average precipitation.

Today’s Weather Summary for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

A crisp Autumn day in the Northland with partly-mostly sunny skies.  Highs were in the 30s to lower 40s with west winds at 5 to 15 mph.

Today’s Upper Level Analysis:

RAP model analysis and water vapor satellite imagery shows two troughs, one covering the Northern/Central Plains, and the Upper Midwest with the other one over the Eastern U.S. associated with Hurricane Sandy.  850mb temperatures as of 4 PM ranged from -6 to -12C in Minnesota.

Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Tonight (October 27th)

High pressure will be over the Central Plains and Upper Midwest while a low pressure disturbance moves east out of the Northern Plains.  Light snow and flurries are possible later Tonight, mainly in Western/Northern sections of our area.  Lows will be in the 20s to lower 30s with west or east winds at 5 to 15 mph.

Note:  Snow accumulations should remain less than 1″ for Tonight and Sunday.  Some locales that could pick up a light dusting of snow late Tonight/Sunday AM include, International Falls, Bigfork, Grand Rapids, Cass Lake, Walker, Brainerd, Hibbing, Ely and Crane Lake.

Sunday and Sunday Night (October 28th)

A weak disturbance could continue to produce snow showers, flurries, and perhaps even a few rain showers on Sunday, especially in Northern Minnesota.  Partly-mostly cloudy skies are forecast this period with highs Tomorrow in the 30s and 40s.  Lows Tomorrow Night will be in the 20s to around 30 degrees.  South or east winds are expected at 5 to 15 mph.

Extended Forecast, Monday through Wednesday (October 29th-31st)

Looks mainly dry in the Northland from Monday-Wednesday.  The big weather story during the next 5 days will be the huge storm that’ll lash the Eastern U.S.  This storm is so massive that the western fringes of it could impact Wisconsin in the form of gusty north winds for Tuesday and Wednesday.  Actually, effects from Sandy will extended from Maine to Wisconsin to Georgia and all points in between early next week.  Incredible!

High temperature forecast:

Monday:  30s and 40s.
Tuesday:  30s and 40s.
Wednesday:  30s and 40s.

Low temperature forecast:

Monday Night:  20s.
Tuesday Night:  20s.

*12z NAM forecast for Monday Evening, October 29th, 2012.  This is the 850mb wind speed forecast.  The size of Sandy as it comes onshore early next week is simply amazing.  Wind gusts greater than 40 mph could occur as far west as Wisconsin, south to Alabama and Florida.  Red shaded areas could have wind gusts exceeding 55-65 mph early next week.

Long Range Forecast (November 1st-6th)

Near to below normal temperatures are forecast during this period.  No major precipitation events anytime soon, but a little something could be brewing sometime between the 4th-6th of November.  Stay tuned!

5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH/SUPERIOR

.Tonight…  Partly to mostly cloudy.  Low 25 to 30.  Wind west to southwest at 5 to 15 mph becoming east late.

.Sunday…  Mostly cloudy.  Flurries or sprinkles possible.  High 38 to 43.  Wind south at 10 to 15 mph.

.Sunday Night…  Partly to mostly cloudy.  Low 25 to 30.  Wind south at 5 to 15 mph.

.Monday…  Partly sunny.  High 38 to 43.

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

.Tuesday…  Partly sunny.  High 38 to 43.

.Tuesday Night…  Partly cloudy.  Low 23 to 28.

.Halloween…  Partly sunny.  High 40 to 45.

Normal temperatures for Today

High:  46
Low:  31

Sunrise Sunday:  7:46 AM CDT
Sunset Sunday:   5:58 PM CDT

Tim

Issued 3:55 PM CDT, Thursday, October 25th, 2012

*Precipitation map for the past 24 hours, ending This Morning, October 25th, 2012.  Widespread much needed precipitation fell across much of Southern/Eastern Minnesota, and in Western, Central, and Northern Wisconsin.  Legend is on the right side of the map.

*Snowfall report for October 25, 2012*
Source:  National Weather Service

St. Louis County:

3 E of Orr, MN:  4.8″
5 N of Virginia, MN:  3.0″
McKinley, MN:  2.8″
Saginaw, MN:  2.5″
1 E of Floodwood, MN:  2.3″

Itasca County:

Nashwauk, MN:  4.8″
Keewatin, MN:  4.5″
Warba, MN:  3.8″
Grand Rapids, MN:  2.5″
12 N of Taconite, MN:  2.2″
7 SE of Grand Rapids, MN:  2.0″

Aitkin County:

7 N of McGregor, MN:  2.9″
Aitkin, MN:  2.0″
Hill City, MN:  1.8″

*Note, this snow depth map only goes through This Morning.  Up to 1.0″ of snow fell in areas that are shaded in gray in Minnesota.

Precipitation report for October 24-25, 2012 (ending between 6-7 AM Today)
Source:  National Weather Service

Duluth, MN:  0.23″
Brainerd, MN:  0.20″
Grand Marais, MN:  0.37″
Hayward, WI:  0.94″
Bruno, MN:  0.64″
12 N of Isle, MN:  0.21″
3 E of Wright, MN:  0.40″
Cass Lake, MN:  0.15″
Cook, MN:  0.14″
Embarrass, MN:  0.96″
Floodwood, MN:  0.42″
Grand Portage, MN:  0.59″
4 E of Island Lake, MN:  0.54″
Silver Bay, MN:  0.37″
Finland, MN:  0.44″
3 S of Ashland, WI:  1.23″
Butternut, WI:  1.10″
Gurney, WI:  1.27″
Park Falls, WI:  1.95″
Upson, WI:  1.03″
4 W of Clam Lake, WI:  0.87″
Gordon, WI:  0.87″

Minnesota drought monitor as of October 23rd, 2012
Source:  Climate Prediction Center

*99% of the state is in Moderate Drought, unchanged from last week.
*44% of the state is in Severe Drought, down from 47% last week.
*25% of the state is in Extreme Drought, down from 30% last week. 

Wisconsin drought monitor as of October 23rd, 2012
Source:  Climate Prediction Center

*80% of the state is in Moderate Drought, down from 83% last week.
*35% of the state is in Severe Drought, down from 36% last week.
*4% of the state is in Extreme Drought, down from 6% last week.

*The precipitation that we’ve received lately is great news for the drought, but much more precipitation is needed to get us back to where we should be.  As of October 20th, 2012 an additional 6-9″ of precipitation is needed to get back to normal in Northwest Wisconsin while 3-6″ of precipitation is needed in Northeast Minnesota.  Unfortunately, it appears as if were going back into a fairly dry weather pattern for the next 7 days or so.

Today’s Weather Summary for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Low pressure of 998mb has moved into Central Lake Superior as of 3 PM.  Widespread snow and rain affected the Northland Today on the backside of this low.  Several inches of wet slushy snow did accumulate Today, especially west-north of the Twin Ports.  High temperatures were in the 30s and 40s with north or west winds at 10 to 20 mph with higher gusts.

*Here’s a radar loop from This Morning.  Blue=snow, the darker the blue the heavier the snow.  So while snow was falling in parts of Minnesota earlier Today, there were severe thunderstorms packing hail and high winds blasting through Northeast Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.  A classic Fall storm!

*Here are the SPC storm reports from Today.  Blue=Damaging Wind.  Green=Large Hail.

Today’s Upper Level Analysis:

A strengthening upper level trough with height falls of 60-120 meters covered the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, Western Great Lakes, and Central Plains Today per RAP model analysis.  Very impressive jet stream winds approaching 120 knots extended from the Central Rockies, northeast into the Upper Midwest and Central Canada Today.  850mb temperatures as of 3 PM ranged from 0 to -6C in Minnesota.

Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Tonight (October 25th)

Low pressure strengthens to sub 990mb as it tracks from Central Lake Superior to Northern Ontario.  Partly-mostly cloudy skies will be found in our area Tonight with lingering snow showers and flurries, mainly across Northern Minnesota.  Lows will be in the 20s to around 30 degrees, but a few locations could drop into the teens.  Winds will be out of the west or northwest at 10 to 25 mph.

Friday and Friday Night (October 26th)

High pressure will cover the Upper Midwest and Plains during this period with deep low pressure up near Hudson Bay.  Flurries could linger into Friday Morning in Northern Minnesota, otherwise it looks dry and cold this period.  Highs Tomorrow will be in the 30s to around 40 degrees with lows Tomorrow Night in the teens and 20s.  Winds will be out of the west at 10 to 20 mph.

Extended Forecast, Saturday through Monday (October 27th-29th)

Dry weather carries over into Saturday, then Sunday and Monday could feature a few snow showers or mixed rain and snow showers in parts of the Northland, doesn’t look like a big system at the moment, but some areas could pick up around a half inch of snow, especially on Sunday.

High temperature forecast:

Saturday:  30s to around 40 degrees.
Sunday:  30s to lower 40s.
Monday:  30s to lower 40s.

Low temperature forecast:

Saturday Night:  Teens and 20s.
Sunday Night:  20s.

Long Range Forecast (October 30th-November 4th)

The big weather story during the next 5-7 days will be with Hurricane Sandy as it makes a rare run toward the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast U.S. either late this weekend or next week.  This storm has the potential to cause significant damage as well as major flooding.  This storm will be so massive that the effects could reach as far west as the Central/Eastern Great Lakes between October 30th-November 1st with strong winds and possibly some snow or rain for those areas. 

For the Northland, nothing much will be happening, certainly won’t be any big storms through November 4th the way it looks now, but a few showers of rain or snow could occur at times.  Temperatures are forecast to be near to below normal.

5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH/SUPERIOR

.Tonight…  Partly to mostly cloudy.  Low 25 to 30.  Wind west to northwest at 10 to 20 mph.

.Friday…  Partly cloudy.  High 35 to 40.  Wind west at 10 to 20 mph.

.Friday Night…  Partly cloudy.  Low 20 to 25.  Wind west at 5 to 15 mph.

.Saturday…  Partly cloudy.  High 35 to 40.

.Saturday Night…  Partly to mostly cloudy.  Low 20 to 25.

.Sunday…  Mostly cloudy.  High 37 to 42.

.Sunday Night…  Mostly cloudy.  Low 23 to 28.

.Monday…  Partly sunny.  High 35 to 40.

Normal temperatures for Today

High:  47
Low:  32

Sunrise Friday:  7:43 AM CDT
Sunset Friday:   6:02 PM CDT

/Tim/