Gusty/Cool NE winds continue near Lake Superior tonight and Thursday

Big time temperature contrast across Minnesota today!

At 2 PM today it was 28 degrees in Grand Marais, while it was 80 degrees in Fairmont.

70s were widespread this afternoon across southern Minnesota, but a stiff NE breeze near Lake Superior kept temperatures in the 30s today, and there was also a little snow at times today north of Duluth with about an inch of snow reported in Ely earlier today.

A strong baroclinic zone was in place across the region today with 850mb temperatures of -12C north of Lake Superior to +14C in far southern Minnesota.

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

Looks mainly dry across the Northland tonight and Thursday, but a few showers or sprinkles could work their way into western portions of the area Thursday afternoon (roughly along and west of a line from International Falls to Walker)

There’s a better chance for a few showers Friday, but once again these look to affect mainly western portions of the Northland.

Note: I don’t think will get any rain in Duluth through Saturday.

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

Source: 18z NAM-WRF model 4.22.20; https://weathermodels.com/

A very cool Goes-16 water vapor loop showing the thunderstorm (some severe) activity across parts of the Southern Plains this afternoon.

Storms are forming in two areas today, one near the subtropical jet blasting NE out of central Texas, and the other area of storms have been forming near a strong mid-upper level low which is moving east across Kansas and Oklahoma today.

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

More severe thunderstorms are likely on Thursday across much of the southeast US with enhanced (orange) and slight (yellow) risks for severe thunderstorms.

Damaging winds, large hail and some tornadoes are possible with the storms on Thursday.

Source: SPC; https://www.pivotalweather.com/

Forecast for Duluth and Superior

.Tonight… Windy. Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 28 to 33. Wind east to northeast 15 to 30 mph.

.Thursday… Breezy. Partly to mostly cloudy. High 41 to 46 but cooler near Lake Superior. Wind east to northeast 10 to 20 mph.

.Friday… Partly to mostly cloudy. High 50 to 55 but cooler near Lake Superior. Wind variable 5 to 15 mph.

Thanks for reading!

Tim