Saturday evening Winter Storm Update (December 28, 2019) Lakeshore Flood Warning, Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories in effect

-Winter Storm Warning (pink) in effect for much of north-central and northeast Minnesota including the cities of International Falls, Bigfork, Grand Rapids, Walker, Brainerd, Hill City, Moose Lake, Cloquet, Duluth, Hibbing, Ely, Two Harbors, Silver Bay and Grand Marais. This warning is in effect through 6 AM Monday, except the corridor from Brainerd to Duluth where the warning goes until 10 AM Sunday.

-Winter Weather Advisory (purple) for all of northwest Wisconsin and a small part of eastern Minnesota including the cities of Superior, Ashland, Siren, Spooner, Hayward and Hinckley. This advisory is in effect until 9 PM tonight in southern areas, and until 2 AM Sunday for northern areas.

Source: https://www.weather.gov/dlh/

Here’s my updated snowfall forecast through 6 PM Sunday.

*Increased amounts to 10 to 15 inches for the North Shore (Higher Terrain areas) due to possible heavy lake enhanced snow through Sunday with east to northeast winds coming off Lake Superior.

*6 to 10 inches of snow for International Falls, Bigfork, Grand Rapids, Walker, Brainerd, Aitkin, Hibbing, Cook, Ely, Two Harbors, Silver Bay, Grand Marais and the north side of Duluth (over the hill)

*3 to 6 inches of snow for Moose Lake, Cloquet, Superior and the south side of Duluth (below the hill)

*1 to 3 inches of snow for Sandstone, Solon Springs and Bayfield.

Note: Additional snow accumulations are expected in much of the Northland Monday into Tuesday with amounts of at least 4 inches looking like a good bet.

Lakeshore Flood Advisory has been upgraded to a Lakeshore Flood Warning which is in effect from Midnight tonight to 6 PM Sunday.

Lakeshore flooding expected in the Canal Park and Park Point areas.

18z HRRR model radar forecast valid through 8 PM Sunday.

Widespread snow (blue) rain (green) and mixed precipitation (pink) will continue in the Northland through Sunday morning.

Dry slot lifts north during the day Sunday causing the widespread precipitation to transition to drizzle or scattered showers, this occurs from south to north across the Northland from Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening.

Source: https://weathermodels.com/

Quite the storm lifting north out of the Plains today per water vapor imagery.

Source: https://weather.cod.edu/

I’ll be keeping an eye on the freezing line (purple dash line on the map below) Temperatures should slowly warm overnight through Sunday morning with the freezing line inching north/west and further into the Northland.

Source: https://www.spc.noaa.gov/

The amount of moisture streaming north into the upper Midwest is near or at record levels for this time of the year.

Radar loop ending at 5:30 PM CT, Saturday, December 28, 2019.

Snow in blue, rain in green, wintry mix in pink.

Source: https://www.wunderground.com/

The risk for scattered power outages may increase in the Twin Ports and along the North Shore of Lake Superior late tonight through the day Sunday due to strong east to northeast winds. The potential for widespread power outages would increase further if significant ice accumulations develop (At least one quarter inch)

Power Outage maps

Minnesota Power – https://www.mnpower.com/OutageCenter/OutageMap

Lake Country Power – http://outage.lcp.coop/#viewer-menu-parent

Road Conditions

Minnesota – https://lb.511mn.org/

Wisconsin – https://511wi.gov/

Outlook for Duluth and Superior

*Winter Storm warning for Duluth until 10 AM Sunday*

*Winter Weather Advisory for Superior until 2 AM Sunday*

-Wet snow mixed with sleet, freezing rain and rain will continue into Sunday morning with temperatures of 30 to 33 degrees.

-East to northeast winds will increase to 20 to 40 mph by late tonight. Wind gusts could approach 50-60 mph Sunday morning.

-Strong east to northeast winds will continue Sunday afternoon with gusts 25 to around 40 mph.

-Widespread precipitation transitions to drizzle and scattered showers Sunday afternoon/evening.

-Areas of fog through Sunday evening.

-Total snowfall accumulations of 6 to 10 inches over the hill in Duluth to 3 to 6 inches below the hill in Duluth and also for Superior.

-Sleet accumulations are also possible through Sunday morning, and some ice accumulations are possible as well if freezing rain occurs.

Thanks for reading!

Tim