A dry cold front will move through the Northland Wednesday morning, shifting winds from northeast to northwest near Lake Superior. Those northwest winds will push temperatures into the 60s near the lake on Wednesday, but east winds will return by late Wednesday afternoon and likely persist through Thursday and Friday, bringing cooler afternoon highs in the 50s. Inland areas can expect afternoon temperatures in the 60s to low 70s from Wednesday through Saturday.
There’s still a chance of a few showers passing through parts of the Northland from Friday evening into Saturday as another cold front moves in, but widespread rain doesn’t seem likely at this point.
…Arizona Severe Risk Wednesday 10/21…
Severe thunderstorms are expected across Arizona on Wednesday, with the potential for a few tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds. Some of the strongest storms could produce hail larger than golf balls, with hailstones exceeding 1.75 inches in diameter.
Another mild day unfolded across the Northland with widespread 60s this afternoon, around 10 to 15 degrees above average for October 20.
We’re seeing large diurnal temperature swings across the Northland, which comes as little surprise given the very dry fall air mass in place. For example, Hibbing dropped to 24 degrees this morning before rebounding to a comfortable 65 degrees this afternoon, a remarkable 41-degree temperature swing from the morning low to the afternoon high.
As we head into late October, water temperatures on Lake Superior are running roughly 3 degrees above average for this time of year, with most readings in the mid-40s to low 50s. With the lake still relatively mild and no prolonged cold air outbreaks affecting the region so far this fall, areas near Lake Superior may see more rain events than snow as we move into November, provided a few storm systems impact the Northland. It’s certainly something to keep an eye on in the weeks ahead.
Given the warm lake temperatures, it will likely take a significant cold air outbreak to bring snow to areas near Lake Superior through much of November.
The overall pattern remains highly active, featuring large-scale systems over both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and another system moving through central Canada today. Meanwhile, a powerful subtropical jet is evident on water vapor imagery, streaking northeast into the southwestern U.S. and transporting a plume of Pacific moisture inland.
GOES-East water vapor loop from Tuesday, October 20, 2026, running from 5:55 AM to 5:45 PM CT.
HRRR model 500mb analysis from the afternoon of Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
…Long Range…
The next chance for a bit of precipitation after Saturday seems to be Sunday night or Monday, as a system moves east from the western high plains. For now, most of the precipitation with this system appears likely to stay south of our area, and any that does fall will probably be rain, with not enough cold air for snow or other frozen forms.
The forecast map shown below is for Monday, October 26, 2026.
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