Weather Blog for Duluth and the Northland

A burst of arctic air will sweep across the Northland from Wednesday into Thursday morning, with 850mb temperatures dropping to about -20 to -25°C and 500mb temperatures falling to around -37°C—pretty impressive. However, the coldest air, with 500mb temps between -45 and -48°C, will actually pass north of Lake Superior.

So what does this mean for temperatures near the surface? We’re talking highs in the single digits and teens on Wednesday and Thursday, with lows dipping from around zero to as cold as -20 degrees. Wednesday night looks to be the chilliest, potentially bringing the first cold weather alerts of the season thanks to frigid temps and dangerously low wind chills.

A cold front will bring in the arctic air midweek as it moves through the Northland Tuesday night, likely squeezing out a bit of snow with around a half inch to an inch of accumulation in some spots.

NAM-Nest simulated radar forecast valid Noon Tuesday to Noon Wednesday.

We’re also seeing a little patchy light snow in parts of the Northland tonight, but this snow shouldn’t amount to much.

Radar loop ends 4:56 PM CT Monday, December 1, 2025.

This morning brought subzero temperatures to the Brainerd Lakes region, with Brainerd, Minnesota dropping to -3 degrees on December 1, 2025. The last time it was -3 or colder there was February 21, 2025, when the low hit -9 degrees.

Another widespread winter storm will continue to affect parts of the Midwest and Ohio Valley into the Northeast U.S. through Tuesday, with widespread winter weather alerts in effect, including a winter storm warning in pink and a winter weather advisory in blue.

Snow – blue
Rain – green
Mix – pink

Radar loop ends 5:28 PM CT Monday, December 1, 2025.

The RAP model through 7 AM CT Wednesday is indicating widespread snowfall of about 2 to 6 inches across the Midwest and Ohio Valley into the Northeast U.S., with heavier totals of 8 to 12 inches possible just north of the Boston area.