Drier weather pattern ahead; very cold tonight and Sunday

*Duluth has had 4 one-inch or greater snowfall events so far this month (thru the 14th) this is what we typically get for the entire month of December.

*19.6″ of snow so far this month in Duluth. If we don’t get another flake of snow the rest of this month we would still finish with above average snowfall for December.

*41.6 inches of snow in Duluth since November 26th. Normal snowfall from November 26 through December 13 is 10 inches. Note: Duluth’s snowfall total from November 26 to December 13 was +31.6″ above normal, incredible!

Source: https://mrcc.illinois.edu/

The week ahead will begin on a chilly note across the upper Midwest and western Great Lakes with below normal temperatures expected (blue colors on map) but temperatures are forecast to modify by late next week.

Source: 12z European ensemble model 12.14.19; https://weathermodels.com/

Warmer weather is possible beginning late next week which may carry over into Christmas week with above normal temperatures expected in the upper Midwest and western Great Lakes (yellow and orange colors on map)

It does appear the snow machine will be turned off at least for a little while in the Northland with a drier than normal pattern expected into late month per Euro ensemble model. This doesn’t mean it won’t snow at all the next 2 weeks, but any snow that does fall will most likely be on the light side with no major snow events expected at least through next weekend, or through December 22nd.

Low temperature forecast for Sunday morning, December 15. Source: https://graphical.weather.gov/

High temperature forecast for Sunday, December 15.

…Weather Summary…

No doubt it’s been a rough stretch of weather in parts of Northland including here in Duluth with so much snow over the last 2 1/2 weeks, over 3 feet of snow in Duluth! The good news is it looks like will finally get an extended break in major snow events, so now would be the time to try and make room for the next stretch of snowy weather which probably isn’t too far away.

High pressure will move SE out of eastern North Dakota tonight and will be over southern Minnesota/northern Iowa by Sunday afternoon.

Clear to partly cloudy skies tonight with frigid temperatures with lows in the teens and 20s below zero, but it will be a little warmer along the South Shore with lows in the single digits to lower teens above zero. Winds tonight will be out of the west or northwest at 5 to 15 mph.

Partly to mostly cloudy skies for Sunday with highs in the single digits to lower teens. Winds will shift to the southwest at 10 to 15 mph.

A few weak systems will pass through the region Sunday night through Tuesday. Will only see a few flurries or light snow showers with each system with little if any accumulation expected.

Note: It does look like will get a bit of thaw beginning ~December 20th, and this could carry over into Christmas. Daytime highs could get close to the freezing mark, if not above freezing on a few days.

Forecast for Duluth and Superior

.Tonight… Very cold. Clear to partly cloudy. Low 9 below to 14 below. Wind northwest 5 to 15 mph.

.Sunday… Partly to mostly sunny. Cold. High 4 to 9. Wind becoming southwest 5 to 15 mph.

.Monday… Partly to mostly sunny. High 13 to 18. Wind west 10 to 20 mph.

Thanks for reading!

Tim