Weather Blog for Duluth and the Northland

7:47 PM Saturday, April 30, 2022

• Strong northeasterly winds will continue near Lake Superior and in the Twin Ports tonight into Sunday morning with diminishing wind speeds Sunday afternoon, but until then expect wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph to continue.
• Occasional rain and drizzle through Sunday evening with areas of fog especially near Lake Superior.
• Chilly temperatures on the first day of May with highs only in the 40s with mid 30s to around 40 degrees near Lake Superior.
• Looks increasingly likely will put together a string of at least 5 days of dry weather in the Northland next week starting on May 2nd.
• International Falls destroyed their record for wettest April on record which was 4.53″ set in April 1925. As of 4 PM today, International Falls has picked up 7.55″ of precipitation this month which makes April 2022 the wettest April ever at International Falls. Percent of normal precipitation this month 460% of normal! Incredible.
• Still looking a pattern change at least for next week with several days of dry weather expected in the Northland starting on Monday, May 2nd.
• Milder temperatures are on the way too, with daytime highs getting into the 50s and 60s in much of the Northland mid to late next week through next weekend, with even a chance for a few 70s next weekend the way it looks now. Temperatures will likely be cooler however near Lake Superior and in Duluth next week due to a northeast wind at least on a few days next week.

Another strong spring storm affecting the upper Midwest today as low-pressure lifts slowly northeast out of northern Iowa.

Goes-16 water vapor loop from Saturday, April 30, 2022.

And a look at the latest storm to affect the upper Midwest today via Goes-16 visible satellite imagery.

Surface low along with a mid-upper-level area of low pressure will continue to move NE through Sunday evening. Lift generated by these lows will continue to lead to rainy weather at times across the Northland through Sunday evening.

FLOOD INFORMATION

-Flood Warning in effect until further notice for the Mississippi River at Aitkin.

*At 10:30 AM Saturday the stage was 12.9 feet. At 13.0 feet the boat ramp at Aitkin city park floods. A few driveways become covered with water in the Cedarbrook area. Minor flooding of farmland occurs in the Cedarbrook community.

*The river is expected to crest at 13.9 feet Wednesday morning. Flood stage is 13.0 feet. This crest compares to a previous crest of 13.9 feet on May 3, 2008.

-Flood Watch in effect through Sunday evening for the North Shore including the cities of Two Harbors, Silver Bay and Grand Marais.

*Flooding caused by rain and snowmelt is possible.

*Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.

Expect more waves of rain to move through the Northland tonight and Sunday with the rain finally coming to an end Sunday evening/overnight.

Simulated radar forecast through Midnight tomorrow night.

Additional rainfall through 7 PM Sunday.

24-Hour Rainfall Reports from around the Northland for April 29-30, 2022

Totals below are through 6 PM April 30.

Brainerd, MN: 0.96″
Hinckley, MN: 0.91″
Moose Lake, MN: 0.87″
Two Harbors, MN: 0.75″
Hill City, MN: 0.64″
Siren, WI: 0.59″
Grand Rapids, MN: 0.55″
Littlefork, MN: 0.55″
Minong, WI: 0.55″
McGregor, MN: 0.54″
International Falls, MN: 0.51″
Washburn, WI: 0.51″
Cloquet, MN: 0.50″
Walker, MN: 0.47″
Solon Springs, WI: 0.45″
Pine River, MN: 0.43″
Aitkin, MN: 0.42″
Duluth Airport: 0.40″
Hayward, WI: 0.38″
Saginaw, MN: 0.38″
Clam Lake, WI: 0.37″
Duluth Sky Harbor Airport: 0.35″
Orr, MN: 0.35″
Effie, MN: 0.34″
Ashland, WI: 0.31″
Cass Lake, MN: 0.30″
Glidden, WI: 0.30″
Superior Airport: 0.29″
Isabella, MN: 0.28″
Grand Marais, The Bay of Grand Marais, MN: 0.26″
Chisholm-Hibbing Airport: 0.25″
Eveleth-Virginia, MN: 0.18″
Ely, MN: 0.05″

Strong northeast winds continue near Lake Superior tonight and Sunday morning with wind speeds diminishing Sunday afternoon.

Wind gust forecast through 7 PM Sunday.

The gales of November in late April near Lake Superior today with sustained winds out of the northeast of 30 to 35 mph with gusts approaching 50 mph at the Duluth Harbor today.

Here’s a video I took of the wind/waves/gale force winds at Park Point (Lake Superior, Duluth, Minnesota) late Saturday afternoon, April 30, 2022.

And a photo from today, Saturday, April 30, 2022.

Thanks for reading!

Tim