Numerous weather headlines in effect for the Northland Tonight-Sunday AM. Stay safe and keep warm! Significant cold blast for the next couple of days.

/Issued 5:09 PM CST, Saturday, January 19th, 2013/

-Warning! Don't look at this map if you're not a fan of bitterly cold temperatures.  The image below is the 850mb temperature forecast valid for Monday Morning, January 21, 2013 per 12z ECMWF Ensemble Model.

-850mb temperatures of -30 to -36C in the Northland on Monday, folks that is insane! Surface temps will likely remain below 0F during the day Monday, in fact some of our area may not get out of the teens below zero Monday Afternoon.

The arctic assault is here!

Peak wind gust report for January 19, 2013
Source:  National Weather Service Duluth, MN

Brainerd, MN:  43 mph
Sky Harbor/Downtown Duluth, MN:  43 mph
Duluth Airport:  39 mph
Cloquet, MN:  40 mph
Knife River, MN:  44 mph
Grand Rapids, MN:  41 mph
Bayfield, WI:  43 mph
Blantnik Bridge Duluth-Superior Harbor:  52 mph
Bemidji, MN:  46 mph
Wadena, MN:  45 mph
Fergus Falls, MN:  47 mph
Hibbing, MN:  43 mph
Glenwood, MN:  54 mph
Minneapolis, MN (Airport)  55 mph

Here's the latest winter weather headline information
Source:  National Weather Service Duluth, MN

*WIND CHILL ADVISORY*

Timing:  9 PM Tonight until 12 PM Sunday.

Location:  All of Northeast Minnesota, including the Counties of Koochiching...Itasca...Cass...Crow Wing...Aitkin...Pine...Carlton...St. Louis...Lake...and Cook.  Some cities included are:  International Falls...Grand Rapids...Walker...Brainerd...Aitkin...Pine City...Moose Lake...Duluth...Hibbing...Ely...Two Harbors...Silver Bay...Isabella...and Grand Marais.

Discussion:  Wind chill values of 25 below to 40 below from late This Evening through Sunday Morning.

This wind chill advisory means that very cold air combined with strong winds will produce low wind chill values.  Frost bite of exposed skin will occur if outdoors for a prolonged period of time and precautions are not taken.  Young children and the elderly are especially susceptible to the cold.  Pets and livestock can also be affected.

*WIND CHILL ADVISORY*

Timing:  12 AM Tonight until 12 PM Sunday.

Location:  All of Northwest Wisconsin, including the Counties of Douglas...Bayfield...Ashland...Iron...Burnett...Washburn...Sawyer...and Price.  Some cities included are:  Superior...Bayfield...Ashland...Hurley...Grantsburg...Spooner...Hayward...and Park Falls.

Discussion:  Wind chill values of 20 below to 30 below from late Tonight into Sunday Morning.

*WIND ADVISORY*

Timing:  Until 3 AM Tonight.

Location:  The North Shore of Lake Superior including Southern Lake and Southern Cook Counties in Northeast Minnesota.  Some cities included are:  Two Harbors...Silver Bay...Lutsen...and Grand Marais.

Discussion:  Northwest winds at 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph are expected at least through Midnight.  The strong winds will cause difficult driving, especially for high profile and light weight vehicles.  

A wind advisory means that winds of 35 mph are expected.  Winds this strong can make driving difficult.  Use extra caution.

*WIND ADVISORY*

Timing:  Until 9 PM Tonight.

Location:  Portions of Eastcentral Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin including the Counties of Southern Cass...Crow Wing...Southern Aitkin...Pine...and Burnett.  Some cities included are:  Leader...Brainerd...Aitkin...Pine City...Hinckley...Grantsburg...and Siren.

Discussion:  Northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph through mid-Evening.  Winds will decrease later in the night.

*LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY*

Timing:  Until 12 PM Sunday.

Location:  Iron County in Northwest Wisconsin, including the cities of Hurley...Gile...and Upson.

Discussion:  Snow showers will develop This Evening and continue through Sunday Morning.  The snow showers will be heaviest later Tonight.

Total snowfall accumulations:  3-7" by Sunday Afternoon in the advisory area, the highest amounts are forecast to be along the Gogebic Range.

Winds/visibility:  Winds will turn to the northwest and increase to 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph Tonight.  The combination of strong winds and falling snow will result in blowing snow and visibility near zero at times.

This lake effect snow advisory means lake effect snow is expected to travel difficult in favored areas.  Lake effect snow showers typically develop in bands and produce several inches of snow in localized areas.  Use extreme caution if traveling.

Weather Tidbits for Duluth, Minnesota:

*8 days so far this month with measurable snow (0.1" or greater)

*Friday's snowfall total of 3.0" was the heaviest calendar day snowfall total since December 9th, 2012 when 6.5" of snow fell.  Also, the 3.0" snowfall total on January 18th, 2013 was the 1st one inch or greater snowfall total since December 28th, 2012.

*0.32" of precipitation was recorded on January 18th, 2013.  This marks the 3rd time this month with a daily precipitation total of at least 0.25".  10th, 11th, and 18th.

*Record Event*
Source:  National Weather Service Duluth, Minnesota

0.32" of precipitation fell on January 18th, 2013.  This is a new record for the date.  The previous record was 0.26" set in 1996.

January 2013 climate check for Duluth, Minnesota (Airport location)

Average monthly temperature (thru the 18th)  17.4F
Departure:  +7.3 degrees

Total precipitation:  1.04"
Departure:  +0.40"

Total snowfall:  4.5"
Departure:  -8.2"

Today's Weather Summary for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Well, I hope you're all prepared for this arctic blast.  Strong low pressure of 996mb has reached the East shores of Lake Superior as of 5 PM with impressive pressure rises of 4mb/2 hours occurring behind this low in Minnesota.  Temperatures started out in the 20s and 30s in most of the Northland, but as the low moved away and the arctic front blasted through from NW-SE, temperatures fell rapidly.  By late This Afternoon, temperatures ranged from the single digits to the teens in all but Price County in Northwest Wisconsin.  Note:  The temperature at Duluth, Minnesota dropped from 29F at 1 PM to 9F at 5 PM Today.  Skies were partly sunny to mostly cloudy Today with occasional snow showers.  Winds increased out of the northwest at 10 to 25 mph with gusts over 40 mph This Afternoon.  The strong winds caused areas of blowing snow and brief whiteout conditions in Northeast Minnesota This Afternoon.

Today's Upper Level Analysis:

A northwest flow continued in the Upper Midwest Today with a vigorous upper trough with height falls of 120-210 meters covering the Upper Midwest and Northern Great Lakes per RAP model analysis.  850mb temperatures as of 5 PM ranged from -6 to -14C in the Southern half of Minnesota to -16 to -22C in Central and Northern Minnesota.

Forecast Discussion for Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

Short Term - Confidence:  High.

Tonight (January 19th)

High pressure of greater than 1032mb will continue to build SE out of Western Canada while low pressure deepens to around 990mb as it moves from Eastern Lake Superior to Central Quebec.  The pressure gradient between the low and high will continue to cause strong northwest winds in our area Tonight, wind speeds of 10 to 20 mph will be common, but wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph are expected, especially before Midnight.  Partly to mostly cloudy skies are forecast with some snow showers and flurries along with areas of blowing and drifting snow.  Lows will range from around 20 below to 5 above with wind chills of 20 below to 40 below.

Sunday and Sunday Night (January 20th)

A disturbance passing well to our west/southwest will help to drag even colder air into the Northland.  Snow showers and flurries associated with that disturbance may affect portions of the Northland on Sunday, but overall this period looks dry, except along the South Shore of Lake Superior where lake effect snow showers will continue.  Highs Tomorrow will be in the single digits below to above zero with lows Sunday Night in the single digits, teens, and 20s below.  Winds will be out of the north or west at 10 to 15 mph.

Extended Forecast - Confidence:  High.

Monday through Wednesday (January 21st-23rd)

Lake effect snow showers could continue at times along the South Shore of Lake Superior on Monday and Tuesday, elsewhere it looks dry through this whole period.  An arctic airmass will remain over the Northland with high temperatures on Monday ranging from around 15 below to zero.  Highs Tuesday and Wednesday are forecast to be in the single digits below to single digits above zero.  Lows Monday Night will be in the teens, 20s, and 30s below.  Lows Tuesday Night will be in the single digits, teens, and 20s below.

Note:  Additional wind chill advisories/warnings will likely be needed in Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin from Sunday PM through Tuesday.

Long Range Forecast - Confidence:  Medium.

(January 24th-29th)

Still have potential snow system later next week, most likely on the 24th-25th.  Doesn't look like a big storm at the moment, but a few inches of snow could fall in parts of the Northland.  May see another snow event sometime between the 27th-29th.  Below normal temperatures are forecast through this period.

5 DAY FORECAST FOR DULUTH/SUPERIOR

*WIND CHILL ADVISORY*
Timing:  9 PM Tonight until 12 PM Sunday.

.Tonight...  Windy and very cold.  Flurries and snow showers This Evening.  Partly to mostly cloudy with some blowing snow.  Low 6 below to 11 below.  Wind northwest at 10 to 20 mph with gusts of 30 to 40 mph This Evening.  Wind chills of 20 below to 40 below.

.Sunday...  Very cold.  Partly sunny.  Flurries possible.  High 0 to 5.  Wind northwest at 10 to 15 mph.  Morning wind chills from 20 below to 40 below.

.Sunday Night...  Very cold.  Partly cloudy.  Low 15 below to 20 below.  Wind northwest at 5 to 15 mph.

.Monday...  Very cold.  Partly cloudy.  High 3 below to 8 below.

.Monday Night...  Very cold.  Partly cloudy.  Low 20 below to 25 below.

.Tuesday...  Very cold.  Partly cloudy.  High 0 to 5 below.

.Tuesday Night...  Very cold.  Partly cloudy.  Low 13 below to 18 below.

.Wednesday...  Very cold.  Partly cloudy.  High 0 to 5.

Normal temperatures for Tomorrow

High:  19
Low:    1

Sunrise Sunday:  7:46 AM CST
Sunset Sunday:   4:55 PM CST

Tim