DULUTH, Minn. – Lake Superior’s waters are calm this morning, but the stillness won’t last. Northern Minnesota is entering a quiet pause before a developing early-winter pattern shifts across the region early next week. Sunlight filters through crisp 30s air today, but colder, wetter changes are just days away.
According to the National Weather Service in Duluth, temperatures will stay mild through Sunday, with highs near 45°F and steady southwest winds. Clouds increase by late Monday as a new low-pressure system approaches from the Dakotas. Rain will begin Monday evening and could mix with snow by early Tuesday as colder air filters in. Preliminary projections hint at 2 to 4 inches of wet snow possible across higher terrain and inland communities.
Travelers planning early Thanksgiving routes across northern Wisconsin and Minnesota should watch for reduced visibility, slick roads, and possible slush accumulation Tuesday morning, especially along U.S. Highway 53 and I-35. Gusty northwest winds near 30 mph could make driving difficult in open areas.
After the system exits Tuesday night, colder air locks in, dropping daytime highs into the upper 20s to low 30s by midweek. Thanksgiving Day itself looks cold but mostly dry, with blustery northwest winds and highs near 27°F — classic late-November chill across the Northland.
Farther south, a broad storm track could bring heavy snow — possibly 6 to 12 inches — from the Upper Midwest to the Great Lakes between November 25 and December 3. For Duluth, that signals winter’s early arrival. Residents should check vehicles, stock up on salt, and prep for slippery travel conditions early next week.
Five-Day Forecast for Duluth, MN:
Fri: 40/28 – Sunny, cool; light northwest wind.
Sat: 47/29 – Mostly sunny; light southwest breeze.
Sun: 47/31 – Partly cloudy, pleasant.
Mon: 45/37 – Cloudy; late rain developing.
Tue: 41/27 – Rain changing to snow; 2–4” possible, windy.
