On Thursday, temperatures are expected to climb back into the 80s across much of northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. By Friday, a cooling trend will set in, especially near Lake Superior, and linger through the weekend as east winds return. This will keep temperatures in the 50s and 60s near the lake, with inland areas still seeing highs in the 70s and 80s.
July started off a little warm in the Northland, with highs hovering around 80 degrees, which is close to or slightly above the average for the first day of the month.
Note: In July, Duluth usually gets around 11 days with highs hitting at least 80 degrees. The record for the most was 25 days in 2012, while the fewest was none at all in 1992. More recently, July 2019 brought 23 days that reached or topped 80 degrees.
Dew points in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin are mostly in the upper 50s to 60s today, making it a bit humid but not as high as Monday’s levels. Over the next few days, they’re expected to remain in the 50s and 60s.
…Wildfire smoke/haze…
The air might be a bit hazy at times over the Northland in the coming days, as wildfire smoke drifts northeast from the Rockies, carried by a southwest flow aloft caused by a deep low over central Canada.
The upper-level pattern shows a classic summertime ridge, with heights reaching 594 decameters centered over the Ohio Valley and a trough to the west. This creates a southwest flow across the upper Midwest, bringing periods of active weather.
The ridge is expected to weaken this weekend and may redevelop over the Rockies next week.
Through 7 PM Thursday, rainfall in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin isn’t expected to be significant, though a few scattered showers and thunderstorms will be passing through. If you find yourself under one, expect a brief but heavy downpour.
The area around Lake Superior is expected to have little to no rain through Thursday evening.
NAM Nest model simulated radar forecast through 10 PM Thursday.
…Friday-Saturday rains…
Confidence in the forecast for Friday through Saturday is a little lower than usual, as computer models vary quite a bit on where the rain will fall and when.
The Euro model predicts drier conditions near Lake Superior, including Duluth, while heavier rains will occur to the west and south.
The NWS blended models are showing a much wetter forecast, with nearly 0.90 inches of rain expected in Duluth starting Friday afternoon and continuing into Saturday.
