Here’s my preliminary snowfall potential map for Wednesday night through Friday morning
*12 to 15 inches of snow along the Higher Terrain along the North Shore of Lake Superior including the north side of Duluth.
*8 to 12 inches of snow for Brainerd, Hill City, Grand Rapids, Moose Lake and the south side of Duluth, and over parts of northwest Wisconsin including the city of Superior.
*A range from 3 to 8 inches across far northern Minnesota with the lower amounts the farther north you go including the city of International Falls.
Note: The orange outlined area on map represents where the snow could mix with or change to freezing rain, sleet or rain on Thursday, those chances are greatest across northwest Wisconsin, but there is also a chance for the snow to mix with or change to freezing rain, sleet or rain at times on Thursday farther to the west including in eastern Minnesota, up to Duluth and Two Harbors.
Changes to this map are possible over the next 24 hours.
Source: http://www.pivotalweather.com/
Note: A winter storm warning means that significant amounts of snow, sleet or freezing rain will make travel very hazardous or impossible.
Source: http://www.pivotalweather.com/
Larger view of the U.S. and the active weather headlines that are in effect as the next major winter storm moves out of the Rockies during the next 24 hours.
Source: https://weather.cod.edu
The three maps below are from the 18z NAM model 12-25-18
Source: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov
Storm track forecast — Low pressure over the Four Corners region (southwest U.S.) is forecast to move into western Oklahoma Wednesday evening to northern Kansas by Thursday morning, reaching northern Iowa Thursday evening and southern/central Wisconsin Friday morning.
This storm will bring widespread snow to the Northland beginning Wednesday evening with snow continuing through Friday morning before ending from W-E.
Warmer air aloft surging north will cause the snow to mix with or change to freezing rain, sleet or rain Thursday into Thursday evening mainly over northwest Wisconsin, but this chance could extend farther west into eastern Minnesota, and north to Duluth and Two Harbors.
Changes to the storm track remain possible, and this could affect where the heaviest snow amounts will be, and where the rain/ice/snow line sets up.
Source: https://weather.cod.edu
Goes-16 water vapor satellite loop from Tuesday, December 25, 2018. Powerful storm over the southwest U.S. this evening, this storm will start to impact the Northland by Wednesday night.
Storm Timeline for Duluth and Superior
•Winter Storm Warning from 6 PM Wednesday until 12 PM Friday
•Some light snow could begin Wednesday afternoon, but a steadier snow arrives later Wednesday evening.
•Snow overnight Wednesday through Friday morning with bursts of heavy snow possible.
•Periods of sleet or freezing rain could mix with the snow during the day Thursday.
•East to northeast winds 10 to 20 mph from Wednesday through Thursday night, stronger wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph are possible on Thursday.
•Some blowing snow is likely at times especially Thursday into Friday morning.
•Total snowfall storm accumulations from Wednesday night through Friday morning of 12 to 15 inches for the north side of Duluth, and 8 to 12 inches for the south side of Duluth and also in Superior.
Note: I’ll have more updates on this winter storm on my blog Wednesday afternoon.
Social Media links
Twitter — @dlhmnwx30
Facebook — timothy.burr1
Tim