Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
742 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- First of two systems tapers off from SW to NE tonight. Snow
expected this evening into tonight with strong winds near Lake
Superior leading to blowing snow. Wintry mix of freezing
rain, sleet, and snow slowly changes to all snow over NW WI.
- A second system arrives Friday afternoon and departs Saturday
night with heavy snow for north central Minnesota and a mix of
snow and ice elsewhere.
- Active weather continues next week with additional precip
chances Sunday into Monday and Wednesday into Thursday.
&&
.UPDATE...
Issued at 742 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
Replaced Winter Storm Warning for Price County which expired at
7 PM with a Winter Weather Advisory for up to a tenth of an
inch of freezing rain and a dusting of snow valid until 1 AM.
Precipitation changing over to snow for most of the Northland.
Warm nose aloft evident on KDLH WSR-88D correlation coefficient
and Zdr products south of a line from near Hinckley to Solon
Springs to near Port Wing. Expect a mix of snow, freezing rain,
and sleet to gradually change to all snow over NW WI before
ending.
Remainder of the short-term forecast unchanged.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 258 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
It is actively snowing across northeast Minnesota, while a
messy mix of rain, snow, and freezing rain is falling across
northwest Wisconsin. The Brainerd Lakes region has also been
switching between snow, sleet, and freezing rain throughout the
day. Winds in excess of 40 mph have been observed near Lake
Superior, causing blowing snow and reduced visibilities in the
Twin Ports and up the North Shore. Enhanced snowfall along the
North Shore due to terrain and lake enhancement is expected to
lighten up this evening as winds start to shift to the north.
What precipitation is still falling later this evening is
expected to switch back to snow as surface temperatures drop
down below freezing. Precipitation will taper off tonight as
temperatures fall into the lower to mid 20s.
A brief lull Friday morning gives way to our second, much
stronger winter storm arriving Friday afternoon and lasting
through Saturday. The TROWAL with the next system has tightened
up a little bit spatially, and maximum snowfall amounts across
north central Minnesota have increased slightly. However, this
still only reflects how much is expected to fall, not
necessarily accumulate due to lower snow to liquid ratios,
temperatures hovering around freezing, and melting on pavement -
especially during the daytime. The current Winter Storm Watch
has been continued, but counties such as Koochiching, Itasca,
and northern St. Louis will likely need a Winter Storm Warning
due to the heavy snowfall. Furthermore, Winter Storm Warnings or
even Ice Storm Warnings may be needed across areas of northwest
Wisconsin since ice totals have increased significantly.
Highest ice accumulations will be in Wisconsin counties along
Lake Superior with a quarter to a half inch possible.
Temperatures will generally hover in the 30s, and winds will
shift from the east to the northwest by late Saturday, gusting
up to 40 mph again.
Sunday will provide a very brief break in the active pattern
with highs recovering into the lower 40s across the Northland
and winds diminishing. However, another quick clipper system
will arrive from the north late Sunday and linger into Monday.
This quick clipper will bring light snow to mainly the Arrowhead
and northwest Wisconsin, and may drop an additional inch, with
up to 3 inches possible along the South Shore due to lake
enhancement. High temperatures on Monday will drop back into the
30s with breezy northwest winds, and we will need to monitor
the environment for the potential of localized snow squalls
Monday afternoon given the steep low level lapse rates, low
values of CAPE, and fast pressure changes.
By Tuesday, high pressure attempts to build in, allowing for
mostly sunny skies and a dry stretch of weather. Temperatures
will start out quite cold early Tuesday morning, in the single
digits to lower teens, but high temperatures will increase
quickly into the upper 30s to lower 40s under the spring sun
with lighter winds. The break is short-lived as the pattern
remains active heading into Wednesday and Thursday. Another low
pressure system will approach the area, bringing chances for
rain and snow showers as highs warm into the upper 40s and lower
50s. Winds will shift to the south and east, picking up in
intensity by Wednesday afternoon as this mid-week system crosses
the region.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 742 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
Winter storm #1 of 2 will taper off from SW to NE tonight. Mix
of SN, PL, and FZRA over portions of NW WI will gradually change
to all SN before ending tonight. Expect IFR/LIFR ceilings to
persist before CIGS improve briefly Friday morning into early
afternoon. Precip with storm #2 will begin to move into central
Minnesota around 18Z Friday and spread NNE across the terminals
through the evening. A wintry mix is expected initially changing
to all snow. Snow rates will be highest Friday evening into the
early portion of Saturday morning. Expect periods of LIFR VIS
and CIGS. HYR and ASX should see a mix of RA/FZRA/SN from system
#2.
&&
.MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/...
Issued at 258 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026
Dangerous conditions continue across Western Lake Superior with
Gale Warnings in effect through Friday morning. Northeast winds
gusting up to 45 mph are generating massive waves between 8 to
14 feet, with occasional waves up to 18 feet. A brief lull
Friday morning will be followed by another strong low pressure
center arriving Friday night, bringing renewed east to northeast
gales and heavy mixed precipitation through Saturday.
For the open water discussion, refer to the NWS Marquette Area
Forecast Discussion at weather.gov/mqt.
&&
.DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...Winter Storm Warning until 7 AM CDT Friday for MNZ020-021.
Winter Storm Watch from Friday afternoon through late Saturday
night for MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038.
Winter Weather Advisory until 7 AM CDT Friday for MNZ010>012-
018-019-026-037-038.
Winter Weather Advisory until 1 AM CDT Friday for MNZ025-
033>036.
WI...Winter Weather Advisory until 7 AM CDT Friday for WIZ001>004.
Winter Weather Advisory until 1 AM CDT Friday for WIZ006>009.
Winter Storm Watch from Friday afternoon through Saturday
morning for WIZ001>004-006>009.
MARINE...Gale Warning until 7 AM CDT Friday for LSZ140.
Gale Warning until 1 AM CDT Friday for LSZ141>147-150.
Winter Storm Warning until 7 AM CDT Friday for LSZ142.
Winter Storm Watch from Friday afternoon through late Saturday
night for LSZ142.
Small Craft Advisory until 4 AM CDT Friday for LSZ148.
