/Issued 4:26 PM CDT, Monday, March 23, 2015/
Upper Midwest radar loop ending at 4:45 PM CDT. Source, WSI.
A weak disturbance triggering an area of rain and snow in North Central Minnesota This Afternoon. This area of precipitation should weaken as it continues on its southeast track early This Evening. Not much accumulation of snow or rain with this one.
Blue=Snow
Green=Rain
Not too surprised that the Weather Prediction Center scaled back on their odds for snowfall totals of at least 4″ Tuesday Night and Wednesday. Remember 24 hours ago the WPC had a high risk for 4″ or greater snow totals, well Today just a slight risk (Blue area on the map) in Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin.
Impressive snow event Sunday Night in portions of Southern Minnesota and Southwest Wisconsin. Here are some snowfall reports from the National Weather Service in Chanhassen and La Crosse.
Woodman, WI: 15.0″
Fennimore, WI: 15.0″
Prairie Du Chien, WI: 13.0″
1 N of Zumbrota, MN: 12.3″
2 NNE of Zumbrota, MN: 12.1″
Lancaster, WI: 11.0″
Lonsdale, MN: 10.5″
5 NNE Zumbro Falls, MN: 10.5″
2.6 NE of Rochester, MN: 10.0″
Lakeville, MN: 9.8″
Prior Lake, MN: 9.0″
New Prague, MN: 9.0″
Jordan, MN: 8.8″
Carver, MN: 8.5″
Farmington, MN: 8.0-8.1″
Waseca, MN: 7.5″
Owatonna, MN: 7.5″
Burnsville, MN: 6.9″
Red Wing, MN: 6.0″
Chanhassen, MN: 5.4″
Edina, MN: 4.1″
Snowfall map for March 22-23, 2015. Source, Midwest Regional Climate Center
*The streak continues! Today is the 18th consecutive day with a high temperature of at least 32 degrees at the Duluth Airport. The streak began on March 6 and continues as of Today (23rd) I thought we had a chance of not reaching the freezing mark this past weekend, but we managed to do so both days. Note: Keep in mind that the average high temperature in Duluth is now at 37 degrees so hitting the freezing mark in late March isn’t as big of a deal as it was just a few weeks ago.
Weather Summary for March 23, 2015
Location: Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin
High pressure was centered to our north while an upper level disturbance drops southeast out of the Northern Plains. Sunny to partly cloudy skies were common Today in Northwest Wisconsin and Northeast Minnesota with overcast skies further west. An area of snow or mixed precipitation has been moving east/southeast through portions of North Central Minnesota Today with visibility as low as one mile at times in a few spots due to falling snow. High temperatures Today were in the 30s and 40s with south or east winds at 5 to 15 mph with higher gusts near Lake Superior.
Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin
Short Term Forecast – Confidence: High.
Tonight (March 23)
High pressure remains to our north/east Tonight while a disturbance weakens as it moves into the Upper Midwest. Lingering snow or rain showers will continue into early Evening in North Central Minnesota otherwise Tonight will be dry under partly to mostly cloudy skies. Low temperatures will be in the 20s and 30s with south or east winds at 5 to 15 mph.
Tuesday and Tuesday Night (March 24)
A complex weather system should arrive Tuesday Night. Low pressure will move east through the Northern Plains while another low heads east/northeast out of the Central Plains.
Dry on Tuesday with highs in the 30s and 40s. Winds out of the south or east at 10 to 20 mph. Should see some precipitation move up from the south/southwest Tuesday Night with lows in the 20s and 30s.
Precipitation late Tuesday Night could begin as rain or a wintry mix, but temperatures aloft and near the surface are forecast to cool enough for snow Overnight.
Extended Forecast – Confidence: High.
Wednesday through Friday (March 25-27)
One area of low pressure lifts into the Southern/Eastern Great Lakes on Wednesday while another low moves east out of North Dakota. Some snow is expected across the Northland from Wednesday into early Thursday although most of this snow looks to be on the light side — Temperatures could warm up enough during Wednesday Afternoon for precipitation to mix with or change to rain especially in East Central Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin.
Note: At this time it looks like a general 1-3″ of wet snow in Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin from late Tuesday Night through Wednesday Night.
High temperatures on Wednesday are forecast to be in the 30s to around 40 degrees with lows Wednesday Night in the teens and 20s. Highs on Thursday will be in the 20s and 30s with lows Thursday Night in the single digits to around 20 degrees. Highs on Friday will be in the 20s and 30s.
Long Range Forecast – Confidence: Medium to High.
(March 28-April 2)
A strong area of low pressure is forecast to move across Ontario this weekend. This system could bring a few snow or rain showers to the Northland Saturday Night and Sunday. Another system could impact the Northland sometime around the 1st-2nd of April with possible rain or maybe even some snow. Near to above average temperatures are expected from March 28-March 31 with near to below average temperatures on April 1-2.
5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH AND SUPERIOR
.Tonight… Mostly cloudy. A few snow showers possible mainly before 7 PM. Low 25 to 30. Wind east to southeast at 10 to 15 mph.
.Tuesday… Partly to mostly cloudy. High 40 to 45 but in the 30s near Lake Superior. Wind east to southeast at 10 to 20 mph.
.Tuesday Night… Snow developing mainly after Midnight. Low 27 to 32. Wind east at 10 to 15 mph.
.Wednesday… Occasional light snow or mixed rain and snow. Total snowfall accumulations of 1-2″ possible. High 35 to 40.
.Wednesday Night… Light snow and flurries. Accumulations less than 1″. Mostly cloudy. Low 22 to 27.
.Thursday… Flurries possible. Partly sunny. High 28 to 33.
.Thursday Night… Partly cloudy. Low 10 to 15.
.Friday… Partly cloudy. High 28 to 33.
Normal temperatures for Monday
High: 37
Low: 20
Sunrise Tuesday: 7:04 AM CDT
Sunset Tuesday: 7:27 PM CDT
Tim
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