Duluth, MN – Travel across northern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin will turn hazardous after 6 p.m. Tuesday as heavy snow, light icing and wind gusts over 50 mph sweep in through Thursday midday.
According to the National Weather Service in Duluth, Winter Storm Warnings are in effect from 6 p.m. Tuesday until noon Thursday for much of northeast Minnesota and Douglas and Bayfield counties in Wisconsin. Northern Cook and Lake counties begin at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Areas impacted include Duluth, Hibbing, Ely, International Falls, Grand Marais, Superior and Bayfield, along with Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters.
Snow totals will range from 3 to 8 inches in many areas, with 10 to 15 inches possible in higher terrain along the North Shore and 4 to 12 inches northeast of Duluth. Ice accumulations up to one tenth of an inch are expected, especially Tuesday evening. Winds gusting between 45 and 55 mph may create near whiteout conditions late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
U.S. Highway 53, I-35 near Duluth, and Highway 61 along the North Shore could become slick and snow-covered. Strong easterly winds off Lake Superior may down tree limbs and power lines, leading to sporadic outages.
Officials urge residents to delay travel and check 511mn.org or 511wi.gov for road conditions. Warnings remain in effect until noon Thursday, with additional updates possible as snowfall intensifies.
