6:39 PM Sunday, March 10, 2024
Our warming trend continues for the next few days with highs Monday in the 50s to lower 60s in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin with even warmer temperatures likely farther south with some locations in southern Minnesota getting into the 70s Monday afternoon. Note: Record or near warmth is possible in the Northland on Monday.
Computer models do show a strong enough offshore wind occurring in Duluth Monday and Tuesday which means that there should be little to no lake cooling below the hill in Duluth both days, but there is a chance that a northeast wind develops Monday night into early Tuesday morning as an area of low pressure moves northeast across the upper Midwest, but any onshore wind should shift to the north-northwest during the day Tuesday.
Record highs for Monday (March 11th)
- Ashland, WI: 65 set in 2012
- International Falls, MN: 61 set in 2012 and 2016
- Hibbing, MN: 61 set in 2012
- Brainerd, MN: 60 set in 2012 and 2016
- Duluth, MN: 60 set in 1902
There is a chance that Duluth records its first 60 degree temperature of the year either on Monday or Tuesday. The average date for the first 60 degree temperature in Duluth is April 12th (1875-2023 climate period)
Last year’s first 60 in Duluth was on April 11th so very close to the average date.
The earliest 60 on record for Duluth was on March 6th (1987), and the latest first 60 on record is May 11th (1950)
It’s been a while, February 8th to be exact since the last time a quarter inch or more of precipitation has fallen at Duluth and there’s no signs of any major precipitation events hitting the Twin Ports at least through the week ahead, but there have been some signals showing up in model guidance that supports a more active weather pattern developing sometime mid to late month, but that could certainly change since we’re talking about something that’s at least 7 to 10 days down the road.
A system later this week looks like it will stay well south of the Northland, but southern Minnesota and southern Wisconsin could get some rain out of that system later this week.
Precipitation forecast through Friday, March 15th.
Thanks for reading!
Tim