/Issued 5:09 PM CST, Tuesday, December 15, 2015/
Winter weather headlines – Winter Weather Advisory purple area on map; Winter Storm Warning pink area on map. More information at this link: http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=dlh&wwa=winter%20weather%20advisory
Tonight’s low temperature forecast. Source, National Weather Service Duluth, Minnesota.
Wednesday’s high temperature forecast. Source, National Weather Service Duluth, Minnesota.
Here are two videos I shot on Park Point, Duluth, Minnesota, Lake Superior on Monday, December 14, 2015. Gusty east/northeast wind, decent sized waves and some lake effect snow!
Snowfall report for December 14, 2015
Source: National Weather Service Duluth, Minnesota
Gile, WI (Iron County) 5.5″
1 WSW of Saxon, WI (Iron County) 5.5″
3 WNW of Clam Lake, WI (Bayfield County) 3.1″
2 SE of Spooner, WI (Washburn County) 2.0″
Ashland, WI (Ashland County) 1.0″
Note: A few days ago I posted the top 10 warmest Decembers on record at Duluth, Minnesota. Today lets look at the top 10 warmest Decembers on record at International Falls, Minnesota.
1) 22.8 degrees (1913)
2) 20.9 degrees (1923)
3) 20.3 degrees (1997)
4) 19.1 degrees (1994)
5) 18.7 degrees (2011)
6) 18.6 degrees (2001)
7) 18.5 degrees (1987)
8) 18.4 degrees (1959)
9) 18.2 degrees (2006)
10) 17.7 degrees (1920)
Note: The average temperature thru December 14, 2015 31.8 degrees which is well ahead of the current warmest December on record of 22.8 degrees which occurred in 1913.
Weather Summary for NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin
Date: December 15, 2015
Low pressure of 996mb was over far Northwest Kansas late this afternoon. The Northland had mostly cloudy skies today with areas of freezing drizzle and drizzle. An easterly wind coming off Lake Superior along with enough of a temperature difference between the water temp and air temp resulted in some lake effect snow showers today along the South Shore and portions of the North Shore of Lake Superior – Visibility under these snow showers fell to around a mile or so with about a coating of snow accumulation in some areas near Lake Superior today. Highs ranged from the low to mid 20s in far Northern Minnesota to the mid 20s to low 30s elsewhere. Winds were out of the north or east at 5 to 15 mph with higher gusts near Lake Superior.
Short Term Forecast – Confidence: Medium to High.
Tonight (December 15)
Lake effect snow showers along with some patchy drizzle or freezing drizzle will persist tonight near Lake Superior with the emphasis of the lake effect snow shifting to the North Shore during the night as winds continue to veer to the east or southeast which will end the lake effect snow potential along the South Shore west to the Twin Ports. Snowfall accumulations ranging from a half inch to as much as 2″ will be possible with this lake effect snow tonight.
Low pressure is forecast to move out of NW Kansas and into Western Iowa by daybreak – Precipitation with this storm will move into Western-Southern portions of the Northland later tonight. Most of the precip should fall as snow as temperatures from the surface to aloft will be cold enough for frozen precipitation tonight.
Lows will be in the 20s and 30s with east winds at 10 to 20 mph with higher gusts near Lake Superior.
Wednesday and Wednesday night (December 16)
Low pressure will move from the Iowa-Minnesota state line toward Western Lake Superior before exiting to the north of Lake Superior by late Wednesday night.
This storm will bring a variety of precipitation to the Northland on Wednesday.
*The Borderland and Arrowhead should get mainly snow out of this storm.
*Northwest Wisconsin, Eastern Minnesota and locations near Lake Superior will see snow mix with and change to rain or a mix.
*The Brainerd Lakes and Iron Range including higher elevated areas near Lake Superior will get snow tomorrow with a lesser chance for the snow to mix with or change to rain or a mix.
Expect hazardous/messy road conditions throughout the Northland on Wednesday as this will be a wet, heavy and slushy snow due to the mild temperatures that’ll be in place once again.
Snow showers and flurries will linger Wednesday night behind the area of low pressure.
Highs on Wednesday will be in the 30s with lows Wednesday night in the teens and 20s. Winds tomorrow will be out of the south, east or north at 10 to 20 mph with higher gusts. Winds tomorrow night will shift to the west at 10 to 20 mph with higher gusts once again possible.
Extended Forecast – Confidence: High.
Thursday through Saturday (December 17-19)
Low pressure will be centered to our N/NE late this week. NW flow, colder temperatures with lingering snow showers and flurries will be common in our area Thursday and Friday with mainly dry weather for Saturday. Highs on Thursday will be in the teens and 20s although 30s are possible early in the day in parts of Northwest Wisconsin. Lows Thursday night will be in the single digits and teens. Highs on Friday will mainly be in the teens with lows Friday night in the single digits below to teens above zero. Highs on Saturday will be in the teens and 20s.
Long Range Forecast – Confidence: Low to Medium.
(December 20-25)
Above average temperatures are expected during the long range with a couple chances for snow or mixed precipitation in Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin. One system could hit us on the 20th-21st with another one sometime during the 23rd-25th time frame.
5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH AND SUPERIOR
Event: *WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY*
Timing: Midnight tonight until 6 PM CST Wednesday.
.Tonight… Breezy. Scattered snow showers this evening with accumulations of around 1″ or less. Patchy freezing drizzle or drizzle through the night with occasional snow overnight. Low 28 to 33. Wind east at 10 to 20 mph with higher gusts.
.Wednesday… Occasional wet snow possibly becoming mixed with rain or drizzle on top of the hill (Higher elevated areas) Wet snow below the hill mixing with or changing to rain and drizzle during the day. Areas of fog. Breezy. High 33 to 36. Wind east at 15 to 25 mph.
.Wednesday night… Wet snow or mixed precipitation early changing to snow showers and flurries during the night. Total snowfall accumulations ranging from 2-5″. Low 23 to 28. Wind becoming west at 10 to 20 mph.
.Thursday… Snow showers and flurries. High 23 to 28.
.Thursday night… Partly to mostly cloudy. Flurries possible. Low 8 to 13.
.Friday… Partly sunny. High 13 to 18.
.Friday night… Partly cloudy. Low 0 to 5.
.Saturday… Partly cloudy. High 20 to 25.
Normal temperatures for Wednesday
High: 22
Low: 7
Sunrise Wednesday: 7:48 AM CST
Sunset Wednesday: 4:21 PM CST
Tim