/Issued 3:21 PM CST, Friday, January 9, 2015/
It’s still several days away but my confidence remains fairly high that we will get at least a little break from the arctic air by mid to late next week as the core of the coldest air shifts well north into Canada thanks to more zonal jet stream winds (west to east) blowing across the northern U.S. Note: It wouldn’t surprise me if many of us here in Minnesota and Wisconsin get close to 30 degrees, if not warmer sometime between Friday-Monday (January 16-19)
The image below is the 500mb pattern for next Friday, January 16, 2015. Source, Weather Prediction Center.
In the short term we stay cold! Here’s the 500mb forecast for Monday, January 12, 2015. Source, Weather Prediction Center. We will continue to see upper level winds blowing out of Canada through early next week which keeps the cold air in place across the Northland.
Snow depth report as of 6 AM January 9, 2015
Source: National Weather Service Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, MN: 7″
International Falls, MN: 14″
7 NW of Brainerd, MN: 2″
3 E of Wright, MN: 2″
Cass Lake, MN: 5″
12 N of Grand Rapids, MN: 3″
25 E of Ely, MN: 12″
Cook, MN: 9″
Embarrass, MN: 7″
Kabetogama, MN: 14″
3 E of Orr, MN: 8″
3 S of Ashland, WI: 5″
4 W of Clam Lake, WI: 11″
Gordon, WI: 5″
Minnesota snow depth map as of January 8, 2015. Source, MNDNR. Far northern Minnesota into the Arrowhead is the place to be for a good snow pack.
Rewinding back to about this time last year. Here’s the snow depth map for Minnesota on January 9, 2014. Source, MNDNR. Quite a change from this year vs. last year.
Weather Summary for January 9, 2015
Location: northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin
Arctic high pressure of 1036mb was centered over Kansas and Oklahoma Today. Just a few passing clouds over the Northland Today but overall skies were mostly sunny with areas of blowing snow as gusty winds continued. Highs were in the single digits with west or northwest winds at 10 to 20 mph with higher gusts. Late day wind chills were mainly in the 10 to 20 below range.
Forecast Discussion for northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin
Short Term Forecast – Confidence: High.
Tonight through Saturday Night (January 9-10)
A weak system passes by to our south on Saturday with high pressure centers located southeast and northwest of our area. Partly cloudy skies are expected through Saturday Night. Low temperatures will be in the teens and 20s below Tonight with highs on Saturday in the single digits and teens. Lows Saturday Night will range from the single digits below to single digits above zero across northwest Wisconsin to the teens and 20s below in northern Minnesota. Winds will be out of the west or southwest Tonight and Saturday and will shift to the northwest Saturday Night. Wind speeds will generally be in the 10-20 mph range.
Wind chill advisory for the entire area shaded in light blue on the map below. Source, NWS hazards map.
More information at this link: http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=dlh&wwa=wind%20chill%20advisory
Extended Forecast – Confidence: High.
Sunday through Tuesday (January 11-13)
Not a lot going on in the world of weather around here. Looks mainly dry and still on the chilly side as strong high pressure moves slowly through the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. Highs are forecast to be in the single digits below to the teens above zero with lows Sunday Night and Monday Night in the teens and 20s below.
Long Range Forecast – Confidence: High.
(January 14-19)
Near normal temperatures on the 14th; after that we should go above average in the temperature department from the 15th-19th. Clipper systems look to pass north/northeast of the Northland mid to late next week with little to no precipitation occurring in our area.
5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH AND SUPERIOR
Event: *WIND CHILL ADVISORY*
Timing: Until 10 AM CST Saturday.
.Tonight… Mostly clear. Frigid. Low 7 below to 12 below. Wind west at 10 to 20 mph with higher gusts possible. Wind chills around 30 below.
.Saturday… Cold. Mostly sunny. High 5 to 10. Wind southwest at 10 to 20 mph. Morning chills around 30 below.
.Saturday Night… Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 5 below to 10 below. Wind west becoming northwest at 10 to 15 mph.
.Sunday… Partly cloudy. High 5 to 10.
.Sunday Night… Mostly clear. Low 10 below to 15 below.
.Monday… Partly cloudy. High 3 to 8.
.Monday Night… Mostly clear. Low 10 below to 15 below.
.Tuesday… Partly cloudy. High 10 to 15.
Normal temperatures for Today
High: 19
Low: 2
Sunrise Saturday: 7:52 AM CST
Sunset Saturday: 4:41 PM CST
Tim