/Issued 4:06 PM CST, Friday, January 23, 2015/
Here’s the updated clipper track for Saturday Night.
Darker blue area=Greatest chance for 2-4″ of snow.
Lighter blue area=Generally 1-2″ snow totals.
Minnesota snow depth map as of January 22, 2015. Source, MNDNR.
Snow depth report as of 6 AM January 23, 2015
Source: National Weather Service Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, MN: 7″
International Falls, MN: 14″
7 NW of Brainerd, MN: 3″
3 E of Wright, MN: 2″
Cotton, MN: 6″
Cass Lake, MN: 4″
25 E of Ely, MN: 14″
Floodwood, MN: 4″
Grand Portage, MN: 9″
4 E of Island Lake, MN: 7″
Kabetogama, MN: 14″
1 WSW of Saxon, WI: 14″
4 W of Clam Lake, WI: 9″
Gordon, WI: 4″
Winter, WI: 9″
Note: Quite a turn-around in temperatures this month in Duluth. On January 15, we had a temperature deficit of -7.4 degrees below average; as of January 22 we were at -1.2 degrees below average. In a week’s time we shaved 6.2 degrees off the deficit of -7.4 degrees that we had back on the 15th. Incredible! January Thaw!
Weather Summary for January 23, 2015
Location: northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin
Low pressure of 1000mb was over northeast Ontario late This Afternoon while a decent looking disturbance continues to move SE through the Great Lakes along with its 60-90 meter H5 height falls. This disturbance was responsible in producing a light glaze of ice across most of the Northland earlier Today with ice accumulations generally in the 0.01-0.05″ range with localized higher amounts. After the precipitation ended — skies became partly to mostly sunny but low clouds have been moving back in from north-south during the mid-late Afternoon hours. Unseasonably mild temperatures over the area Today with highs in the 30s to lower 40s. Winds were out of the southwest or northwest at 10 to 20 mph with higher gusts.
Forecast Discussion for northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin
Short Term Forecast – Confidence: Medium to High.
Tonight (January 23)
Mostly cloudy skies will be found in our area Tonight as a cold front approaches from the north. Patchy flurries or freezing drizzle is possible Tonight with lows in the 20s and 30s, keep in mind that average lows at this time of year are around zero, so yes way above average Tonight. Winds will be out of the west or northwest at 10 to 25 mph.
Saturday and Saturday Night (January 24)
For the past few days I have been watching the trends in the models on a clipper low which will drop southeast out of northwest Canada during this period. Unfortunately the model trends have taken a turn for the worse or better depending on if you like snow or if you don’t like snow. It looks like this low will track more to the west and south compared to what the computer models had been showing in previous days. What this means for the Northland is less snow, in fact parts of the area may not see any snow at all.
The bulk of the snow (Greatest accumulations) looks like it will setup in west central through south central Minnesota with lighter snow amounts expected in parts of north central/eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. The Iron Range, Borderland, Arrowhead, and parts of the North Shore may not see anything more than flurries the way it looks now.
Timing of the snow: Most of Tomorrow should remain dry, then some light snow and flurries move in Saturday Evening through the Overnight hours.
Highs on Saturday will remain on the mild side with 20s and 30s expected. Lows Saturday Night will range from the single digits below zero to around 20 above. Winds Tomorrow will be out of the northwest at 10 to 15 mph. Winds Tomorrow Night will shift to the east or northeast at 5 to 15 mph.
Extended Forecast – Confidence: Medium to High.
Sunday through Tuesday (January 25-27)
High pressure moves across Ontario on Sunday as low pressure moves into the Ohio Valley. A few flurries are possible on Sunday but for the most part it looks dry. The next clipper system to keep an eye on approaches from the northwest Sunday Night and passes through the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest on Monday. Some snow will be possible in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin from Sunday Night into Monday with mostly light accumulations expected the way it looks now. Dry weather returns for Tuesday.
Highs are forecast to be in the teens and 20s on Sunday, warming into the 20s and 30s for Monday and Tuesday. Lows Sunday Night will be in the single digits to around 20 degrees. Lows Monday Night will be in the teens and 20s.
Long Range Forecast – Confidence: High.
(January 28-February 2)
Above average temperatures on the 28th, after that near to below average temperatures from the 29th-2nd. Note: The airmass that is overhead next Wednesday (28th) has the potential to be a warm one — sorta similar to Today, possibly even a little warmer! An area of low pressure will be tracking through the region during the middle of next week but no real weather issues are anticipated with this one. In fact most of this forecast period looks uneventful.
5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH AND SUPERIOR
.Tonight… Mostly cloudy. Low 25 to 30. Wind west to northwest at 10 to 20 mph.
.Saturday… Considerable cloudiness. High 30 to 35. Wind west to northwest at 10 to 15 mph.
.Saturday Night… Light snow and flurries. Mostly cloudy. Total accumulations of around 1″ possible. Low 13 to 18. Wind east to northeast at 10 to 15 mph.
.Sunday… Flurries possible. Mostly cloudy. High 20 to 25.
.Sunday Night… Mostly cloudy. Light snow or flurries possible. Low 15 to 20.
.Monday… Mostly cloudy. Light snow or flurries possible. High 25 to 30.
.Monday Night… Mostly cloudy. Flurries possible. Low 20 to 25.
.Tuesday… Some sun. High 28 to 33.
Normal temperatures for Saturday
High: 19
Low: 1
Sunrise Saturday: 7:42 AM CST
Sunset Saturday: 5:00 PM CST
Tim
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