/Issued 3:00 PM CST, Friday, February 21, 2014/
Here we go again…
Here’s the latest from Homeland Security and Emergency Management
-The Minnesota State Patrol is advising no travel throughout much of Minnesota due to snow and ice covered roads.
-Governor Mark Dayton has issued an emergency executive order that directs the Minnesota National Guard to assist stranded motorists in counties affected by the winter storm.
-Initial reports show 290 people spent the night in emergency shelters.
Steele County:
National Guard Armory in Owatonna 6 people sheltered.
Renville County:
National Guard Armory in Olivia – 57 sheltered.
4 additional shelters – 77 people sheltered.
Freeborn County:
National Guard Armory in Albert Lea – 12 people sheltered.
Le Sueur County:
EOC in Le Center – 3 people sheltered.
Cleveland Fire Hall – 10 people sheltered.
Blue Earth County:
Lake Crystal-Crystal Seasons facility – 20 people sheltered.
Lake Crystal Fire Hall – 3 people sheltered.
Cottonwood County:
Business Arts and Recreation Center in Windom – 71 people sheltered.
Mountain Lake Community Center – 1 person sheltered.
McLeod County:
Four shelters – 10 people sheltered.
Nicollet County:
Nicollet Fire Hall – 20 people sheltered.
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Snow depth report as of 6 AM February 21, 2014
Source: National Weather Service Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, MN: 36″
International Falls, MN: 32″
7 NW of Brainerd, MN: 24″
12 N of Isle, MN: 30″
3 E of Wright, MN: 30″
Cass Lake, MN: 22″
12 N of Grand Rapids, MN: 25″
Babbitt, MN: 42″
Cook, MN: 40″
Embarrass, MN: 36″
Grand Portage, MN: 31″
4 E of Island Lake, MN: 41″
3 E of Orr, MN: 34″
Finland, MN: 41″
Ashland, WI: 34″
Gurney, WI: 35″
Upson, WI: 32″
9 N of Bayfield, WI: 40″
4 W of Clam Lake, WI: 33″
*RAP snow depth analysis from 19z or 1 PM CST Today.
*RECORD EVENT*
Source: National Weather Service Duluth, Minnesota
A record 24 hour snowfall total was broken on February 20, 2014. New record: 10.9″; Previous record: 4.6″ set in 2005.
A record 24 hour precipitation total was broken on February 20, 2014. New record: 1.06″; Previous record: 0.84″ set in 1891.
Note: Yesterday marks the 3rd time this month that a daily snowfall record was broken. February 13, 17, and 20.
Weather tidbits:
*2nd lowest barometer reading in Wisconsin during the month of February. The pressure at 3 AM Today February 21, 2014 fell to 976.1mb at Iron Mountain. The record lowest pressure reading occurred on February 28, 1902 at 971.9mb.
*La Crosse, Wisconsin had their 5th lowest pressure reading on record for the month of February. At 9 PM last night February 20, 2014 the pressure dropped to 985.7mb.
*Between 6 AM Thursday and 6 AM Today the National Weather Service issued 74 tornado warnings and 257 severe thunderstorms warnings all in association to the same storm that produced the winter storm around here. Source, twitter @SeverePlains
Filtered storm reports from February 20, 2014 per Storm Prediction Center.
Red dots=Tornado reports (11)
Blue dots=Damaging wind reports (275)
Green dots=Large hail reports (26)
Note: There’s been 104 preliminary filtered storm reports Today over the Eastern U.S.
The winter of 2013-14 has been an epic one in the Twin Ports
-December: 39.9″ of snow
-So far this winter there have been 60 days with a low temperature below zero degrees (all-time record)
-February’s snowfall total is up to 29.5″ after this latest storm
-23 days in a row with a low temperature below zero degrees (January 20-February 11) All-time record
Today’s Weather Summary for NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin
Deep low pressure of 976mb is over Northern Lake Superior as of 3 PM. Cyclonic flow around this storm continued to bring flurries and snow showers to the area This Afternoon under partly sunny to mostly cloudy skies. Temperatures were in the single digits and teens Today so much colder compared to the past few days. Winds were the big story Today with west or northwest winds at 15 to 30 mph with gusts over 40 mph. The strong winds have produced areas of blowing and drifting snow Today.
Forecast Discussion for NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin
Short Term Forecast – Confidence: High.
Tonight through Saturday Night (February 21-22)
Strong area of low pressure over Northern Lake Superior This Afternoon will lift slowly north into Northern Ontario through Tomorrow Night. Partly to mostly cloudy skies will continue this period. Flurries and snow showers should end Tonight, the rest of this period looks dry. Lows will be in the single digits below to single digits above zero for Tonight with highs Tomorrow in the single digits and teens. Lows Tomorrow Night will range from around 10 below to the single digits above zero. West or northwest winds will continue through this period at 10 to 20 mph with gusts over 30 mph continuing Tonight. Areas of blowing and drifting snow will continue in the Northland through Saturday Morning.
Note: A winter storm warning remains in effect until 6 PM This Evening for Northern Lake and Cook County in Northeast Minnesota and for Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, Sawyer, and Price County in Northwest Wisconsin.
Extended Forecast – Confidence: High.
Sunday through Tuesday (February 23-25)
This period looks mainly dry at this time with below average temperatures. Highs from Sunday through Tuesday will top out in the single digits and teens with lows Sunday Night and Monday Night in the single digits and teens below zero to the single digits above zero.
Long Range Forecast – Confidence: High.
(February 26-March 3)
Were looking at another shot of bitterly cold air which affects the Northland from the 26th through at least the 28th. This airmass looks similar to the past few shots of arctic air also known as the Polar Vortex! 1 difference is a stronger sun at this time of year vs. what we had back in January, so as long as the sun is out mid-late next week that may help at least a tiny bit during the daytime hours (make it feel slightly warmer) With all this cold air comes a less-snowy weather pattern for our area, about the only time period that needs to be watched looks like it’ll be March 1-3 this is when a system might move into the Plains but whether or not it comes far enough north to bring some snow to our area is highly uncertain this far out in time.
6-10 day temperature outlook from the Climate Prediction Center. Valid February 27-March 3. Very high odds for colder than average temperatures across much of the Northern/Central Plains, Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region.
5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH AND SUPERIOR
.Tonight… Windy with areas of blowing and drifting snow. Partly to mostly cloudy. Flurries possible during the Evening. Low 2 below to 3 above. Wind west to northwest at 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph.
.Saturday… Partly cloudy. High 8 to 13. Wind west to northwest at 15 to 25 mph.
.Saturday Night… Partly cloudy. Low 2 below to 7 below. Wind west to northwest at 10 to 15 mph.
.Sunday… Partly cloudy. High 7 to 12.
.Sunday Night… Partly cloudy. Low 5 below to 10 below.
.Monday… Partly sunny. High 9 to 14.
.Monday Night… Partly cloudy. Low 5 below to 10 below.
.Tuesday… Partly sunny. High 5 to 10.
Normal temperatures for Today
High: 26
Low: 8
Sunrise Saturday: 7:01 AM CST
Sunset Saturday: 5:44 PM CST
Tim
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