/Issued 4:23 PM CST, Sunday, February 25, 2018/
Source: https://hprcc.unl.edu
Note: Last week’s pattern was pretty epic around here, something we haven’t seen in a while. A blocking pattern thanks to a massive/unusually strong upper level ridge and incredible warmth to the east with colder air off to the west along with a persistent upper level trough. This setup put the Northland under a moist/southwest flow aloft while several waves of energy tracked generally toward the northeast along the baroclinic zone (Temperature gradient) Things lined up well to put our area in the sweet spot for some pretty hefty snowfall totals during the 7-day period from February 18-24. Snow depths as of Sunday morning (Feb 25) ranged from 1 to 2 feet over much of the Northland with some locations close to 3 feet of snow on the ground! For those that enjoy a good/deep snow pack, this is your time, have fun!
Source: http://wx.graphics
Source: https://weathermodels.com
12z Euro Ensemble model from 2.25.2018. 500mb height anomaly map for Thursday, March 1, 2018.
Note: One thing that is different this week compared to last week is the location of the upper level ridge (Blue H on map) Last week it was parked farther NE, this week its more to the SW, and this should keep a system for mid to late week south of the Northland due to a more southerly storm track.
Source: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/
The storm that brought snow and gusty winds to the Northland Saturday night produced severe weather farther south.
Red – Tornado reports
Blue – Wind reports
Green – Hail reports
Source: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/regsci/gis/index.html
NWS warnings map from Saturday, probably one of the busier severe weather days we’ve seen so far this year.
Source: https://hprcc.unl.edu
Temperature departure map for the week of February 18, 2018.
Note: Most of the Northland was 2 to around 10 degrees colder than normal last week.
Source: https://hprcc.unl.edu
Precipitation departure map for the week of February 18, 2018.
Note: It was a very snowy/wet week in the Northland with precipitation departures ranging from about 0.40 to 1.60 inches above normal with the greatest departures from average in northeast Minnesota and in far northern Douglas county in northwest Wisconsin (Blue/Purple colors on map)
Source: https://hprcc.unl.edu
Last week was quite anomalous in the amount of precipitation that fell in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin — Precipitation totals last week were some 2 to 8 times what would typically fall from February 18 through 24. Amazing!
Temperature and Precipitation report for Duluth, Minnesota
February 18-24, 2018
High Temperatures/Departure from Normal
2/18: 23 F/-2 degrees below normal
2/19: 14 F/-11 degrees below normal
2/20: 17 F/-9 degrees below normal
2/21: 23 F/-3 degrees below normal
2/22: 23 F/-3 degrees below normal
2/23: 32 F/+5 degrees above normal
2/24: 27 F/Normal
Low Temperatures/Departure from Normal
2/18: 8 F/+1 degree above normal
2/19: 8 F/+1 degree above normal
2/20: 5 F/-3 degrees below normal
2/21: -5 F/-13 degrees below normal
2/22: -7 F/-16 degrees below normal
2/23: 20 F/+11 degrees above normal
2/24: 1 F/-8 degrees below normal
Note: Average temperature for the week of February 18, 2018: 13.5 degrees (-3.6 degrees below normal) Source: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us
Total Precipitation: 1.43 inches
Normal: 0.23 inches
Departure: +1.20 inches above normal
State Average for Minnesota for the week of February 18, 2018
Source: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us
Average Temperature: 14.3 degrees
Departure: -4.4 degrees below normal
Total Precipitation: 0.66 inches
Departure: +0.42 inches above normal
Weather Tidbits for Duluth, Minnesota
•21.0 inches of snow this past week (February 18-24) Average is 3.3 inches. +17.7 inches above normal! Incredible!
•24.2 inches of snow so far this month with 21.0 inches of that falling this past week! February snowfall average is 12.4 inches.
•February 2018 currently ranks as 8th snowiest on record with 24.2 inches of snow. The snowiest February on record occurred in 1939 with 33.9 inches of snow.
•The average temperature so far this winter (Dec 1 through Feb 24) 9.7 degrees which is -3.7 degrees colder than normal.
•2nd wettest and 3rd snowiest February 24 on record on Saturday. Total precipitation 0.40 inches (Wettest 0.67 inches set on 2/24/2001) Total snowfall 6.2 inches (Snowiest 11.7 inches set on 2/24/2001)
More Weather Tidbits
Source: http://blog-weathertalk.extension.umn.edu/
Meteorological winter 2017-2018 is down to its final few days (Dec 1 – Feb 28) This winter will end up with below average temperatures for approximately 90% of the climate stations in Minnesota with only about 10% of Minnesota’s climate stations having an above average winter temperature.
Embarrass, Minnesota has reported 9 dates with a low temperature of 40 below or colder this winter while Montevideo, Minnesota has reported 17 days with temperatures of 40 degrees or higher! More snow cover this winter in Embarrass with little snow cover in Montevideo most of the winter which factors into these extremes in temperatures.
Snowfall Reports for February 24-25, 2018
Source: http://www.weather.gov/dlh/
3 S of Finland, MN: 14.0 inches
4 W Grand Marais, MN: 12.8 inches
Hovland, MN: 10.8 inches
4 NW Knife River, MN: 10.0 inches
4 NW Arnold, MN: 10.0 inches
1 NE Duluth, MN: 10.0 inches
Finland, MN: 10.0 inches
Wolf Ridge, MN: 9.5 inches
Silver Bay, MN: 9.2 inches
3 SW Yellowlake, WI: 9.0 inches
2 NW Duluth, MN: 8.5 inches
5 NW Two Harbors, MN: 8.5 inches
2 NW Gary New Duluth, MN: 8.5 inches
Island Lake, MN: 8.4 inches
3 N Butternut, WI: 8.0 inches
2 NNE Lester Park, MN: 8.0 inches
Kabetogama, MN: 8.0 inches
Wrenshall, MN: 7.7 inches
West Duluth, MN: 7.5 inches
Moose Lake, MN: 7.5 inches
2 W Hayward, WI: 7.5 inches
4 WNW Superior, WI: 7.5 inches
Grand Rapids, MN: 7.0 inches
Gordon, WI: 7.0 inches
Bigfork, MN: 7.0 inches
Mercer, WI: 6.5 inches
11 W Drummond, WI: 6.0 inches
Cotton, MN: 6.0 inches
Webster, WI: 5.9 inches
Coleraine, MN: 5.6 inches
Grantsburg, WI: 5.5 inches
4 E Iron River, WI: 5.5 inches
International Falls, MN: 5.3 inches
Saxon, WI: 5.0 inches
Gile, WI: 5.0 inches
Phillips, WI: 5.0 inches
Embarrass, MN: 5.0 inches
1 SE Oulu, WI: 4.2 inches
Pine River, MN: 4.0 inches
Cook, MN: 3.8 inches
1 SSW Ely, MN: 3.3 inches
Weather Synopsis
After last week’s active wintry pattern, the next few days will be much quieter with milder daytime highs and some melting snow. Deep low pressure ~984mb has reached the southern shores of Hudson Bay Canada late this afternoon with its impressive 12-hour 500mb height falls of 120-240 meters. Brisk west/southwest winds have occurred today in wake of last night’s winter storm with wind gusts in our area in the 20 to 30 mph range most of the day. There’s been some sunshine today but also passing clouds, highs today were in the mid 20s to around 30 degrees (Close to average for late February)
Partly to mostly cloudy skies will continue for tonight with lows in the single digits and teens. Warmer air floods into the Northland Monday under partly to mostly sunny skies. Highs will climb into the 30s with even some 40s for some of us.
An area of low pressure with its warm front and cold front will swing through the upper Midwest from Monday through Tuesday morning. The best chance for any snow with this system is expected to remain over Ontario Province.
High pressure builds into the upper Midwest Tuesday behind Monday’s system. Highs Tuesday are forecast to be in the 30s to lower 40s.
Forecast for Duluth and Superior
.Tonight… Partly to mostly cloudy. Breezy. Low 10 to 15. Wind west to southwest at 15 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph.
.Monday… Milder. Partly to mostly sunny. High 35 to 40. Wind southwest at 10 to 20 mph.
.Tuesday… Partly to mostly cloudy. High 34 to 39. Wind west at 10 to 20 mph.
Normal temperatures for Monday
High: 28
Low: 10
Sunrise Monday: 6:54 AM CST
Sunset Monday: 5:50 PM CST
Tim