Duluth, MN – Roads across the Northland could turn slick by late tonight as a wintry mix develops, bringing a combination of snow, freezing rain, and rain through Wednesday.
According to the National Weather Service in Duluth, precipitation will begin as a light mix Tuesday night, especially across the Arrowhead and northwest Wisconsin after 6 p.m. Conditions will shift to a rain/snow mix by Wednesday daytime, with most southern areas seeing mainly rain, before changing back to snow or a mix Wednesday evening into the overnight hours.
Snowfall totals are expected to stay around 1 inch or less, but a light glaze of ice from freezing rain could create hazardous travel, particularly on untreated roads, bridges, and elevated surfaces. Key routes including I-35 near Duluth, Highway 61 along the North Shore, and US-53 could see reduced traction and changing conditions through multiple phases of precipitation.
Cities such as International Falls, Ely, Grand Marais, and Ashland face the highest likelihood of mixed precipitation, while Duluth and Superior may trend wetter during the day before refreezing risks return at night.
Looking ahead, a wetter pattern develops by late weekend into early next week, with multiple rounds of rain Sunday through late Monday. Combined with snowmelt, this could increase the risk of localized flooding and rising rivers.
Drivers should stay alert for rapidly changing conditions through Wednesday night, with additional advisories likely as the system evolves.
