Some rain at times through Friday; areas of wet snow, sleet and freezing rain also possible on Friday

A sharp cold front will move through the Northland on Friday. This system will bring occasional rain to northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin from late tonight through Friday, and some of the rain could mix with or change to sleet, wet snow or freezing rain on Friday.

Here’s how much precipitation could fall through Friday evening.

Source: https://lab.weathermodels.com/

Source: 12z European ensemble model 4.1.20; https://lab.weathermodels.com/

The potential for significant accumulations of ice and snow have increased across western Minnesota into parts of the Dakotas for Thursday and Friday. Note: Power outages and tree damage is also possible in the aforementioned areas due to the potential for significant ice and snow accumulations the next few days.

Winter Storm Warning in pink

Winter Storm Watch in blue

Winter Weather Advisory in purple

Source: https://home.pivotalweather.com/

The next few days won’t be as nice as the last few days have been. Looking at occasional rain across the Northland later tonight through Friday. The best chances for rain tonight into Thursday will be across north-central Minnesota, then rain chances will slowly increase in eastern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin Thursday night into Friday.

Note: Rain could mix with or change to sleet, freezing rain and wet snow from west to east on Friday, but not much snow or ice accumulation is expected in our area the way it looks now.

Simulated radar forecast from 7 PM this evening to 7 PM Friday.

Source: 18z NAM-WRF model 4.1.20; https://weathermodels.com/

The Northland remained under an upper level ridge today, but things will be changing the next few days as more unsettled weather approaches from the west and south.

Source: Goes-16 water vapor imagery; https://weather.cod.edu/

Well, spring is certainly here! Check out these temperatures from Wednesday afternoon, ranging from the middle 60s to lower 70s in far southwest Minnesota and southeast South Dakota, meanwhile near Lake Superior temperatures were in the 30s this afternoon due to a breeze off the big swamp.

Low temperature forecast for Thursday morning, April 2, 2020. Source: https://lab.weathermodels.com/

High temperature forecast for Thursday, April 2, 2020.

…Weather Summary…

We were treated with another sun filled day across most of the Northland today, and I don’t think anyone was complaining about that, we need sunshine these days, it’s the little things.

Unfortunately the next few days should trend cloudier as a slow moving cold front moves east out of the Dakotas – Deep southerly flow ahead of this boundary will advect humid air northward into our area with precipitable water values increasing to around 0.50 to 1.00″ for Thursday and most of Friday. This moisture coupled with increasing lift due to the approaching cold front will cause rain to develop, first in north-central portions of Minnesota tonight and Thursday with a lesser chance for a few showers in northwest Wisconsin.

Rain chances will eventually increase in northwest Wisconsin and the tip of the Arrowhead, but not until Thursday night or even as late as Friday as the cold front moves farther east.

Thunder chances are very small in our area through Friday with virtually no CAPE (instability) to speak of, but with the abundant moisture moving in we could see some downpours at times.

By late Thursday night or Friday morning will begin to see some colder air work into western portions of the area causing the rain to change to a few hours of sleet, wet snow or freezing rain. The threat for a little frozen precipitation will shift farther east Friday afternoon or evening before all the precipitation moves away. Note: The greatest chance for some ice and snow accumulation in the Northland looks to be along and west of a line from Brainerd to International Falls, and we could see an advisory issued along that corridor for late Thursday night or Friday.

Dry weather is forecast Saturday with some sunshine, but some rain could return at times late this weekend into early next week.

Forecast for Duluth and Superior

.Tonight… Breezy. Increasing cloudiness. A few showers possible late. Low 30 to 34. Wind east 10 to 20 mph.

.Thursday… Breezy. Mostly cloudy. A few showers possible. Patchy fog or drizzle also possible. High 38 to 43. Wind east 10 to 20 mph.

.Friday… Occasional rain possibly mixing with or changing to sleet and wet snow late. Mostly cloudy. Areas of fog and drizzle. High 39 to 44. Wind east to southeast 5 to 15 mph becoming west 10 to 20 mph.

Thanks for reading!

Tim