Winter Storm Update – 12:00 PM, Thursday, April 2, 2026

A low pressure system of about 999mb/29.50 inches is positioned over far southwest Iowa and will move northeast, passing near Green Bay, Wisconsin by tonight. To the northeast, there is a strong arctic high of 1038mb/30.65 inches located over Quebec, Canada, which is sending colder air into the Northland with northeast winds. The difference in pressure between the high and low is creating a tight pressure gradient, resulting in strong northeast winds, especially near Lake Superior. These winds could increase further, with gusts up to 45 or possibly 50 mph this afternoon into the evening.

Duluth could see one of its top three snowfalls for April 2nd, but we’ll just have to wait and see. I think the odds of breaking the 6.2-inch record are pretty slim, though.

The top three highest single-day snowfall totals in Duluth, Minnesota for April 2nd.

1: 6.2 inches set in 1950
2: 5.7 inches set in 2025
3: 3.4 inches set in 1971

Moisture continues moving north this afternoon, bringing snow and an icy mix to the north, while rain falls farther south.

Radar loop ends 12:06 PM CT Thursday, April 2, 2026.

Local storm reports as of 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2026

• Danbury, WI (Burnett County) Freezing Rain 0.13″
• Webb Lake, WI (Burnett County) Freezing Rain 0.10″
• Duxbury, MN (Pine County) Freezing Rain 0.06″
• Moose Lake, MN (Carlton County) Snow 3.0″
• Sturgeon Lake, MN (Pine County) Snow 2.0″
• Grand Rapids, MN (Itasca County) Snow 1.0″
• Nisswa, MN (Crow Wing County) Snow 1.0″

This afternoon, temperatures in the Twin Ports are steady between 28 and 31 degrees, with not much change expected as the day goes on.

Elsewhere in the Northland, midday temperatures range from 27 to 32 degrees.

Temperatures at 850mb range from about -2 to -6°C in the Northland late this morning, with a more noticeable warm nose in northwest Wisconsin where sleet and freezing rain have been observed. Eastern Minnesota up to the Twin Ports has also had enough of a warm nose to bring sleet and some patchy freezing rain mixed in with the snow this morning.

With east-southeast winds continuing through the afternoon will see further warm air advection in east central Minnesota, Twin Ports and northwest Wisconsin, however, the temperatures at 850mb should remain colder than 0C keeping precipitation in a frozen type whether it falls as snow, sleet or freezing rain.

For Duluth: Snow and sleet will stick around through late tonight, with a chance for heavier precipitation later this afternoon into the evening. Things should start to taper off early Friday morning, likely between 1 and 3 AM. Northeast winds will keep gusting at 25 to 45 mph through late this evening, causing occasional blowing snow and sleet.

HRRR model simulated radar forecast through 4 AM Friday.

Snow – blue
Mix (sleet/freezing rain) – purple/pink
Rain – green

By late tonight, Duluth can expect total snow and sleet accumulations of around 4 to 7 inches.