/Issued 5:34 PM CST, Thursday, February 8, 2018/
Source: http://www.pivotalweather.com/
Source: http://www.pivotalweather.com/
Source: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu
Here’s the latest drought monitor as of February 6, 2018 — Parts of western/northern Minnesota are in D0 (Abnormally Dry) to D1 (Moderate Drought)
Note: No doubt about it we’re in a dry stretch. Here in Duluth we’ve had 2.94 inches of precipitation since November 1 (Normal amount is 4.43 inches) Precipitation deficit of ~1.50 inches since November 1, that may not not seem like a lot, but it raises a red flag as we head into the spring melt, I can’t imagine there’s a whole lot of water built up in our snow pack this winter since most of our snowfalls have been the light/fluffy kind without much water. Increased risk for wild fires this spring in the Northland if we don’t get into a wetter/snowier pattern soon. Things could always flip toward a stormier/wetter pattern before April, but so far I’m not seeing a strong signal showing up in long range model data that would support a stormier weather pattern for our local area at least through the next 2 weeks.
Weather Synopsis
High level clouds are streaming in from the west late this afternoon as a high impact snow system passes south of our area through Friday night. This system won’t get close enough to produce any snow here in the Northland but it will bring some clouds to the area tonight but sunshine should return for Friday.
Frigid temperatures continue tonight with lows in the single digits, teens and 20s below with 30s below even possible in the typical colder spots especially if skies clear for a few hours. Highs Friday will be in the single digits and teens so still below normal for the time of year. Note: Average highs are in the lower 20s in early February.
Note: Remember that big snowfall we got in Duluth back in late October? Well this is a post I made back on October 29, 2017 talking about how a big early season snow doesn’t necessarily guarantee a snowier than normal winter, well this winter is as you already know well below average in snowfall through February 8.
Note: There have been 25 Octobers on record dating back to 1885 that produced above average snowfall at Duluth, Minnesota. The Normal snowfall for October is 2.3 inches. Of those 25 — 9 winters that followed had above average snowfall, while 16 of them produced below average winter snowfall.
Note: Winter is defined as the months of December, January and February; And the normal snowfall is 49.5 inches. See list below. Highlighted years had above average winter snowfall.
1933-1934: 38.0 inches
1925-1926: 20.2 inches
1995-1996: 81.2 inches
1966-1967: 54.8 inches
2010-2011: 39.8 inches
1936-1937: 52.4 inches
1926-1927: 35.4 inches
1955-1956: 45.4 inches
2002-2003: 15.7 inches
1951-1952: 38.7 inches
1919-1920: 19.2 inches
1992-1993: 50.4 inches
2003-2004: 74.1 inches
1991-1992: 32.8 inches
1969-1970: 55.2 inches
2006-2007: 34.3 inches
1917-1918: 26.4 inches
1987-1988: 30.3 inches
2009-2010: 56.5 inches
1984-1985: 35.5 inches
1916-1917: 22.2 inches
1959-1960: 54.6 inches
1990-1991: 34.6 inches
1954-1955: 52.1 inches
1906-1907: 32.9 inches
Forecast for Duluth and Superior
Event: *Wind Chill Advisory*
Timing: 9 PM this evening to 10 AM CST Friday
.Tonight… Cold. Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 10 below to 15 below. Wind northwest at 10 to 15 mph. Wind chills as low as 35 below.
.Friday… Cold. Mostly sunny. High 6 to 10. Wind west to northwest at 10 to 15 mph. Morning wind chills as low as 35 below.
.Saturday… Mostly sunny. High 9 to 13. Wind west at 10 to 15 mph.
Normal temperatures for Friday
High: 22
Low: 4
Sunrise Friday: 7:22 AM CST
Sunset Friday: 5:24 PM CST
Tim
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