Scattered snow showers this evening; pleasant weather Friday and Saturday; watching snow chances late this weekend-early next week

The next few days will be rather pleasant across the Northland, but the weather could turn a little more active late this weekend into early next week with some potential for accumulating snow in northwest Wisconsin, and possibly in far eastern and northeastern Minnesota. Stay tuned.

-An area of low pressure is forecast to be over the Southern Plains this weekend, this low is then forecast to deepen while it moves northeast to the Eastern Great Lakes early next week.

-How far NW this system tracks and the amount of moisture which can get thrown back into our area will determine just how much or how little snow we get in some parts of our area late this weekend.

Source: 850mb temperature anomaly forecast; 12z European model 4.9.2020; https://www.tropicaltidbits.com/

There is still some uncertainty on the storm track this weekend and how much phasing we see between a strong low to the SE and a strong trough approaching from the NW so this forecast could change the next few days, but as of Thursday afternoon it appears the best chance for significant snowfall 3-6″+ accumulations would be mostly east of the Northland with potential for trace-3″ amounts in most of northwest Wisconsin and in northeast and far eastern Minnesota, again though these snowfall amounts could increase/decrease depending on how this system sets up. Stay tuned.

Goes-16 water vapor imagery from today (Thursday, April 9, 2020) continues to show a strong closed low over California while the subtropical jet is screaming from the Baja region across the southern US. Meanwhile a ‘bomb’ is going off in the northeast US as a powerful storm develops today.

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

Seeing a chilly air mass across the upper Midwest and Great Lakes today and a similar air mass (possibly even a little colder) arrives by early next week. Note: The warmer air over the western High Plains really won’t make it into the Northland as it gets pushed SE in coming days.

Source: RAP model; https://www.spc.noaa.gov/

Widespread cold air aloft covered the upper Midwest and Great Lakes today with 500mb temperatures (~18,000 feet) of around -35C!

The combination of cold air aloft and steep lapse rates led to the development of snow and rain showers today with heavier snow squalls at times.

Source: Goes-16 visible satellite imagery 4.9.2020; https://weather.cod.edu/

A snow squall warning was issued for the Twin Ports this morning as a heavy snow squall moved through the city dropping a quick 1 to 1.5″ of snow in about a half hour. Note: This was the first time that a snow squall warning was issued in the Northland, but snow squall warnings are still kinda new as the NWS just started issuing them this winter season.

…Weather Summary…

Scattered snow showers and flurries will linger in parts of the Northland tonight but they should become more isolated by later this evening/overnight. Partly to mostly cloudy skies tonight with lows in the teens and 20s. Winds will be out of the northwest at 10 to 20 mph with higher gusts this evening.

Partly to mostly sunny on Friday with highs in the 40s to lower 50s except for 30s in the tip of the Arrowhead. Winds shifting to west/southwest 10 to 15 mph.

A cold front moves SE through the Northland on Saturday, but this should be a dry frontal passage. Partly to mostly cloudy Saturday with highs in the 40s and 50s.

Cooler Sunday with highs in the 30s to around 40 degrees. Could be some snow or a mix of precipitation especially in northwest Wisconsin. Northern Minnesota should be dry on Easter Sunday.

Forecast for Duluth and Superior

.Tonight… A few snow showers and flurries mainly this evening. Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 20 to 25. Wind northwest 15 to 25 mph.

.Friday… Partly to mostly cloudy. High 42 to 47. Wind becoming west to southwest 10 to 20 mph.

.Saturday… Partly to mostly cloudy. High 47 to 52. Wind southwest 10 to 20 mph.

Thanks for reading!

Tim