/Issued 3:47 PM CDT, Monday, March 18th, 2013/
Pink=Winter Storm Warning.
Purple=Winter Weather Advisory.
Various winter weather headlines remain in effect through Midnight CDT Tonight and until 5 AM CDT Tuesday for the North Shore of Lake Superior. And until Noon CDT Tuesday for Ashland and Iron County along the South Shore of Lake Superior in Northwest Wisconsin. Note: It’s possible that some of the headlines that expire at Midnight Tonight will be extended. (Source, NWS Duluth MN)
Snow Snow and more Snow, holy cripes! March 2013 just one half inch away from breaking into the top 10 for snowiest Marches. Details below.
Data thru 3 PM Today (NWS Duluth location)
Monthly snowfall total: 25.0″
Average for March: 13.2″
Also of note, Spring 2013 (March-May) will finish above average in snowfall. Normal amount is 20.5″. We’ve already picked up 25.0″, so no matter what happens the rest of this Spring, snowfall will finish above average.
Annual snowfall total (Since July 1) 77.8″. We are running above average by around 3″. That hasn’t happened in quite some time.
Note: Last year’s annual total thru March 18th was at 48.5″. We’ve picked up close to 30″ more snow this season vs. last season.
Note: My winter snowfall forecast of 75-85″ for Duluth, Minnesota has verified. So far were at 77.8″.
Snowfall report for March 18, 2013
Source: National Weather Service Duluth, Minnesota
The totals listed below are through 3 PM Today and may not reflect the final amount.
Kabetogama, MN (St. Louis County) 6.5″
2 SW of Biwabik, MN (St. Louis County) 6.0″
Alborn, MN (St. Louis County) 6.0″
4 NNE of Askov, MN (Pine County) 5.3″
Breezy Point, MN (Crow Wing County) 4.5″
Oakland, WI (Burnett County) 4.5″
4 S of Sawyer, MN (Carlton County) 4.3″
Silver Bay, MN (Lake County) 4.2″
Webb Lake, WI (Burnett County) 4.0″
International Falls, MN (Koochiching County) 4.0″
Little Marais, MN (Cook County) 3.7″
3 E of Orr, MN (St. Louis County) 3.6″
3 N of Brainerd, MN (Crow Wing County) 3.0″
8 ESE of Pine City, MN (Pine County) 2.6″
Twin Ports area totals:
Lakeside/Lester Park, MN (St. Louis County) 5.5″
Superior, WI (Douglas County) 5.0″
5 NW of Duluth, MN (St. Louis County) 4.7″ NWS total thru 3 PM Today.
2 SW of Proctor, MN (St. Louis County) 4.5″
Today’s Weather Summary for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin
Low pressure of 1000mb was centered in Northern Minnesota near International Falls as of 3 PM with a cold front extending from far Northern Minnesota into Westcentral Wisconsin. It’s been a snowy day in the Northland with the heaviest snowfall in most areas occurring mainly before the Noon hour. High temperatures were in the 20s to around 30 degrees with winds out of the east, south or west at 5 to 15 mph with higher gusts.
Today’s Upper Level Analysis
A strong negatively tilted upper trough covered the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes with height falls of 60-150 meters per RAP model analysis. 850mb temperatures as of 3 PM ranged from -8 to -16C in Minnesota.
Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin
Short Term Forecast – Confidence: High.
Tonight (March 18th)
A strong area of low pressure averaging 993-997mb will move east out of Northern Minnesota and is forecast to move out over Lake Superior during the night. Occasional light snow and flurries will persist in the Northland Tonight with some heavier snow continuing This Evening mainly in far Northeast Minnesota (Arrowhead region)
The biggest weather story Tonight will be the increasing WNW winds. Once the low gets to our east, wind speeds will ramp up. Sustained winds of 15-25 mph are expected with gusts of 30-50 mph. The strongest winds are forecast to affect areas near Lake Superior. Widespread blowing and drifting snow will develop Tonight with visibilities below a mile at times.
Low temperatures Tonight will be in the single digits and teens.
Tuesday and Tuesday Night (March 19th)
Low pressure will be centered to our east with cold temps and gusty NW winds occurring in our area on the backside of this storm. Occasional light snow and flurries should continue this period with highs on Tuesday in the teens and 20s. Lows Tuesday Night will range from around 10 below to 10 above. Northwest winds at 10-25 mph are forecast this period with stronger gusts, especially on Tuesday. Areas of blowing and drifting snow will persist through Tomorrow.
Note: Lake effect snow should increase in coverage and intensity late Tonight into Tuesday with another 3-8″ of accumulation possible in the snowbelt region of Ashland and Iron County in Northwest Wisconsin.
Extended Forecast – Confidence: High.
Wednesday through Friday (March 20th-22nd)
A chilly mid to late week with highs in the teens and 20s on Wednesday and Thursday with 20s and 30s on Friday. Lows Wednesday Night and Thursday Night will be in the single digits and teens below to single digits above zero. May see a few flurries on Wednesday, otherwise this period looks dry.
Long Range Forecast (March 23rd-28th)
The good news for those people who are sick of snow is that the weather pattern looks pretty quiet in our area as we head through the final week of March. I see no systems affecting the Northland until possibly early April. The bad news is that this snow pack isn’t going anywhere anytime soon with temperatures staying below seasonal averages.
5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH/SUPERIOR
*WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY*
Timing: Through Midnight CDT Tonight.
.Tonight… Turning windy with blowing and drifting snow developing, especially after 7 PM. Considerable cloudiness with light snow and flurries at times. Additional snowfall accumulations less than 1″. Storm totals of 4-6″. Low 7 to 12. Wind becoming northwest and increasing to 15 to 30 mph with gusts to 40-50 mph possible late.
.Tuesday… Windy with blowing and drifting snow. Considerable cloudiness with flurries possible. High 16 to 21. Wind northwest at 15 to 30 mph with higher gusts possible.
.Tuesday Night… Partly to mostly cloudy. Breezy. Low 2 below to 4 above. Wind northwest at 15 to 25 mph.
.Wednesday… Partly sunny. High 10 to 15.
.Wednesday Night… Partly cloudy. Low 0 to 5 below.
.Thursday… Partly cloudy. High 20 to 25.
.Thursday Night… Partly cloudy. Low 0 to 5 below.
.Friday… Partly cloudy. High 25 to 30.
Normal temperatures for Today
High: 35
Low: 18
Sunrise Tuesday: 7:13 AM CDT
Sunset Tuesday: 7:20 PM CDT
Tim
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