Duluth, MN – A powerful winter storm is hammering northern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin, dumping up to 3 feet of snow in parts of the region and creating life-threatening travel conditions just ahead of Thanksgiving, according to the National Weather Service in Duluth.
Snow will continue to fall through Wednesday night, with 8 to 12 inches expected near Duluth and totals climbing to 12 to 18 inches between Ashland and Solon Springs. The heaviest snowfall is projected across northern Iron County, Wisconsin, where 30 to 36 inches in Hurley may pile up due to persistent lake-effect snow bands off Lake Superior.
The storm began as rain early Tuesday before quickly transitioning to snow, leading to slick, snow-covered roads and whiteout conditions across much of the Northland. Forecasters warn that lake-effect snow along the South Shore will linger into Thursday, with strong winds causing blowing and drifting snow that could make some highways impassable.
Officials are urging residents and Thanksgiving travelers to avoid nonessential travel, particularly along U.S. Highway 2 and Highway 53, where visibility may drop to near zero.
Temperatures will remain below freezing through Thanksgiving Day, ensuring that icy and hazardous road conditions persist even after the snow ends.
