Rain chances will remain highest west of the Northland tonight and throughout most of Wednesday. By Wednesday night, the western parts of the region might get some showers or a few thunderstorms. However, any rain making its way toward northeast Minnesota and the Twin Ports by early Thursday morning will likely weaken considerably.
There’s a chance for some isolated to scattered showers or thunderstorms to redevelop Thursday afternoon or evening, with the highest likelihood south and east of the Twin Ports.
Rainfall, if any, in the Duluth area and near the Birch Bay Fire in far northeast Minnesota looks to be pretty minimal later this week, with mostly dry weather returning for the weekend.
Euro model simulated radar forecast through 4 PM Wednesday.
…Birch Bay Fire Update…
As of Tuesday afternoon, June 2, 2026, the Birch Bay Fire had grown to 35 acres with no containment.
Evacuation orders
Set (yellow) Level 2 – Evacuation Warning SL-1.
Ready (green) Level 1 – SL-2, SL-3.
Along with the Birch Bay Fire in far northeastern Minnesota, several large fires have also broken out further north in parts of western Ontario, marked in yellow.
Wildfire smoke season seems to be on the horizon in the Northland, likely beginning once the winds turn more northerly and start carrying smoke down from the fires up north.
Our upper-level pattern is holding steady, with a ridge dominating the Great Lakes and extending into the Northland, while a trough sits out west and another lingers to the east.
A trough to our west is still bringing occasional rain and thunderstorms to the northern Plains today, with some storms turning severe and producing hail and strong winds.
Red polygons – Tornado Warning
Yellow polygons – Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Green polygons – Flash Flood Warning
Radar loop ends 5:06 PM CT Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Here’s a snapshot of today’s radar rainfall estimates covering the past 12 hours, ending at 5 PM CT.
The system to our west looks impressive on satellite imagery, with a nice spin creating strong lift—one key ingredient for rain. However, it’s not moving east and is holding nearly stationary, which means none of this rain will make it to the Northland tonight or even by Wednesday morning.
Goes-19 visible satellite loop ends 4:50 PM CT Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Goes-19 water vapor loop ends 5 PM CT Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
This afternoon, the Northland saw temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to low and mid-80s, with the usual cooler readings near Lake Superior in the 50s and 60s as easterly winds continued for yet another day.
Highs over the next few days will stay in the 70s and 80s, and it looks like we’ll finally get a stronger southerly flow developing on Wednesday and Thursday. If that happens, we can expect much warmer temperatures, even down below the hill in Duluth.
Among the record highs listed, Hibbing and International Falls likely have the best chance of tying or breaking a record high temperature on Wednesday.
…Record Highs for June 3…
Brainerd, MN: 94 set in 1923
Ashland, WI: 91 set in 1948
Duluth, MN: 90 set in 1948
International Falls, MN: 88 set in 1971 and 2023
Hibbing, MN: 85 set in 2023