Little snow/rain Friday afternoon-Friday night; Chilly early next week

Timothy Burr

1 year ago

7:00 PM Thursday, April 3, 2025

No significant snowstorms are expected, but neither are any major warmups. In fact, there is a potential for low temperatures to approach zero in parts of northern Minnesota early next week.

The average date for Duluth’s last 1-inch snowfall is April 12th, with the latest on record being May 19th, 2019, and the earliest on record March 4th, 2012.
The average date for Duluth’s first 70-degree temperature is April 28th, with the earliest being March 7th, 2000, and the latest on June 14th, 1907.
Following the recent winter storm, the 2024-2025 seasonal snowfall total for Duluth stands at 53.2 inches, which is still 28 inches below the normal level as of April 3rd.

Early next week we see a brief shot of arctic air (April standards) pass through the Northland as 850mb temperatures drop to around -15 to -20°C, but cold air in early April feels different than it would a month or two ago thanks to the stronger sun angle this time of year (if the sun is out on Monday). Regardless, we’re looking at daytime temperatures on Monday mainly in the 20s.

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As we approach the middle to end of next week, temperatures in Duluth may rise back into the 50s, but this depends on the wind direction; an east wind would keep it cooler.

There could be a little snow, or a rain-snow mix that moves across the Northland from west to east as we get into Friday afternoon and Friday night, as a cold front crosses the area, but we’re not expecting any major snow (<1″ snow accumulation) or rain amounts with this system.

Note: If we see some snow or rain in Duluth, it doesn’t look like it will occur until sometime Friday night.

NAM 3km model simulated radar forecast valid 7 AM Friday to 7 AM Saturday.

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Very stormy weather will continue the next few days over parts of the southern U.S., up to portions of the Ohio Valley. Rounds of heavy rain and strong to severe thunderstorms are likely at least through Saturday, with tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds.

A deep trough is over the Rockies with strong winds aloft (130-150+ knots) over the upper Great Lakes today.

An outbreak of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes occurred on Wednesday, with the tornado count reaching up to 40 as of 6 PM today. Some of these tornadoes were violent. There were over 400 severe weather reports on Wednesday.