/Issued 4:16 PM CST, Wednesday, January 28, 2015/
Freezing Rain Advisory for Tonight in the area shaded in pink in northwest Wisconsin. Source, NWS hazards map. More information can be found at this link: http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=dlh&wwa=freezing%20rain%20advisory
Winter 2014-15 snowfall totals/departure from normal thru January 27
Source: National Weather Service
Note: Winter is the period from December 1-February 28
Duluth, Minnesota
Total: 15.2″
Departure: -19.9″
International Falls, Minnesota
Total: 30.3″
Departure: +1.9″
Twin Cities, Minnesota
Total: 11.0″
Departure: -11.7″
St. Cloud, Minnesota
Total: 5.0″
Departure: -12.1″
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Total: 7.8″
Departure: -12.3″
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Total: 12.7″
Departure: -8.4″
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Total: 12.3″
Departure: -12.1″
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Total: 12.6″
Departure: -10.9″
Madison, Wisconsin
Total: 8.9″
Departure: -15.8″
Chicago, Illinois
Total: 12.5″
Departure: -5.3″
Des Moines, Iowa
Total: 8.4″
Departure: -7.9″
Note: Every city on this list except for International Falls has had below average snowfall so far this winter. Duluth’s average winter snowfall is 49.5″; we need 34.3″ of additional snow by the end of February to get to the average. Highly unlikely this happens.
Outside of the Rockies and around the Great Lakes there really isn’t much snow cover as we get closer to the end of January. Source, Midwest Regional Climate Center.
Weather Summary for January 28, 2015
Location: northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin
Low pressure of 1004mb was over far northwest Missouri late This Afternoon with a weaker surface low averaging 1010mb over far northwest Minnesota. A cold front was moving into western Minnesota as of 4 PM. Sky conditions ranged from partly to mostly cloudy in northwest Wisconsin while generally overcast conditions prevailed in northeast Minnesota. Patchy freezing drizzle and drizzle along with some haze was also common Today over parts of the area. High temperatures were in the mid 20s to low 30s with south or southeast winds at 5 to 15 mph.
Forecast Discussion for northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin
Short Term Forecast – Confidence: High.
Tonight (January 28)
A cold front passes through the Northland Tonight while low pressure exits to our east later in the night. Expect some freezing drizzle and snow showers around the area Tonight under mostly cloudy skies. Precipitation will remain on the light side Tonight, but it only takes a small amount of ice accumulation to cause difficult driving conditions, so if you have travel plans Tonight use caution as patchy freezing drizzle could make roads slick and hazardous in spots. Low temperatures will be in the teens and 20s as winds shift to the northwest at 10 to 25 mph.
Thursday and Thursday Night (January 29)
High pressure builds into the Upper Midwest this period. Partly cloudy skies are expected with highs Tomorrow in the teens and 20s, lows Tomorrow Night will range from the single digits below to around 10 above zero. Winds will be out of the northwest at 10 to 25 mph.
Extended Forecast – Confidence: High.
Friday through Sunday (January 30-February 1)
A very minor snow event is possible from Friday PM into early Saturday otherwise this period looks dry. Arctic air should move in on Sunday, before then generally near to slightly above average temperatures. Highs on Friday and Saturday will be in the teens and 20s with highs on Sunday in the single digits. Lows Friday Night will be in the single digits and teens with lows Saturday Night ranging from the teens below to single digits above zero.
Long Range Forecast – Confidence: High.
(February 2-7)
Below average temperatures are forecast from the 2nd-7th. Little to no snow.
5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH AND SUPERIOR
.Tonight… Mostly cloudy. Patchy freezing drizzle. Flurries and light snow showers also possible. Low 20 to 25. Wind south to southeast around 10 mph becoming northwest at 15 to 25 mph after Midnight.
.Thursday… Breezy. Partly cloudy. High 25 to 30 early with slowly falling temperatures. Wind northwest at 15 to 25 mph.
.Thursday Night… Mostly clear. Low 0 to 5. Wind northwest at 10 to 15 mph.
.Friday… Partly to mostly cloudy. Flurries possible late. High 15 to 20.
.Friday Night… Mostly cloudy. Flurries possible. Low 5 to 10.
.Saturday… Partly to mostly cloudy. Flurries possible early. High 15 to 20.
.Saturday Night… Partly cloudy. Low 5 below to 10 below.
.Sunday… Partly cloudy. High 5 to 10.
Normal temperatures for Thursday
High: 20
Low: 2
Sunrise Thursday: 7:37 AM CST
Sunset Thursday: 5:07 PM CST
Tim