/Issued 7:02 PM CDT, Saturday, April 14, 2018
Here’s my updated snowfall accumulation map valid through Monday morning. I have increased snow totals for the Twin Ports, North Shore and actually for all of the Northland. I still have low to medium level confidence with my snowfall forecast the farther west you go, I may have totals a little too high even here in Duluth.
Snow is falling early this evening in eastern Minnesota and southern portions of northwest Wisconsin, this area of snow is moving toward the west-northwest, and should eventually reach the Twin Ports later this evening.
Winter Weather Headlines Map for the Northland
Zoomed out view of the current winter weather headlines that are in effect
Source: http://www.spc.noaa.gov
Mesoscale Discussion is out for potential for heavy snowfall rates through late this evening, this includes southern portions of the Northland — More info at this link http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md0258.html
Source: http://weather.cod.edu
18z NAM-Nest Simulated Radar Forecast from 9 PM this evening to 1 PM Monday.
Snow in blue colors on map
Source: http://weather.cod.edu
Goes-16 water vapor satellite loop of this historic winter storm that continues to hammer the upper Midwest today, Saturday, April 14, 2018.
*Local Storm Reports for April 14, 2018*
Source: https://www.weather.gov/dlh/
Source: https://www.weather.gov/dlh/
•7:38 AM CDT: NON-THUNDERSTORM WIND DAMAGE. Washburn, WI (Bayfield County) Multiple trees down/damaged in Washburn. 15 inch plus diameter pine tree snapped 4-5 feet above the ground.
•7:45 AM CDT: NON-THUNDERSTORM WIND DAMAGE. 4 SSE Grand View, WI (Bayfield County) Trees blocking CTH D about 4 miles south of US 63.
•7:00 AM CDT: Lakeshore Flood. 1 E Duluth, MN (St. Louis County) Lake Walk, Parking lot next to Lift Bridge, and parts of Canal Park Drive are under water.
•1:25 PM CDT: NON-THUNDERSTORM WIND DAMAGE. Hayward, WI (Sawyer County) Numerous 3″ diameter tree branches down in Hayward.
•2:15 PM CDT: NON-THUNDERSTORM WIND DAMAGE. 1 ENE Superior, WI (Douglas County) Large pine tree snapped near the base.
Link to Power Outage Maps
Minnesota Power: http://outagemap.mnpower.com/external/default.html
Lake Country Power: http://mi.lcp.coop:82/#viewer-menu-parent
Links to Road Conditions
Wisconsin: https://511wi.gov/map
Note: Lakeshore Flood Warning remains in effect for parts of the North Shore of Lake Superior in northeast Minnesota and for all of the South Shore of Lake Superior in northwest Wisconsin — This warning goes until 10 AM CDT Sunday. Flooding and damage is ongoing in Duluth’s Canal Park late this afternoon, and additional lakeshore flooding and damage is possible through Sunday morning from near Two Harbors to Duluth to Ashland. Northeast winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph will continue to produce large and dangerous waves through Sunday morning.
Weather Synopsis for northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin
Strong area of low pressure was over southeast Iowa-northeast Missouri at 6 PM this evening with a mid/upper level low slightly west of the surface low. This storm will continue to lift slowly east/northeast and will reach the eastern Great Lakes by Monday morning.
Snow, heavy at times tonight and Sunday in northwest Wisconsin with blizzard conditions developing along the South Shore of Lake Superior affecting Bayfield and Ashland County — Travel is strongly discouraged once this storm begins later tonight as winds of 25 to 50 mph combines with falling snow to produce whiteout/blizzard conditions along the South Shore, but also farther inland across northwest Wisconsin where snow is already developing as it moves up from the south early this evening.
Snow will also occur tonight and Sunday in east central Minnesota, while snow eventually develops in northeast Minnesota including in Duluth and along the North Shore.
The highest snowfall amounts will likely be along the South Shore of Lake Superior thanks to some lake enhanced snow with the cold airmass in place along with favorable N-NE winds over Lake Superior which should continue through Sunday night.
Significant amounts of snow are expected in east central Minnesota, inland locations in northwest Wisconsin, and also along the North Shore of Lake Superior with 8″+ totals possible south of Duluth and possibly along portions of the North Shore of Lake Superior.
The least amount of snow from this storm will likely be across northern Minnesota where little if any snow is expected.
For Duluth and Superior
-Snow will gradually develop tonight, timing of when the snow will begin is always tricky with these types of setups, but most model guidance shows snow reaching the Twin Ports between 9 PM-1 AM with snow flurries continuing before then.
-Snow is expected to continue for Sunday and Sunday night with breaks in snowfall intensity at times.
-By late Sunday night I’m thinking will have a range from 4 to 8 inches of snow in the Twin Ports, but I would tend to lead toward the lower end of that range with the setup that’s in place.
-There is a chance for some lake enhanced snowfall in some parts of Duluth and or in Superior with northeast winds turning more out of the north-northeast on Sunday.
-Gusty winds will continue through Sunday evening, strongest winds likely tonight through Sunday morning. Gusts 20-50 mph, again strongest through Sunday morning. Areas of blowing and drifting snow will develop by Sunday.
Tim