Duluth, MN – An unusually strong and fast-moving winter system is expected to sweep across parts of the Upper Midwest late this week, bringing snow, strong winds, and potential travel disruptions across multiple states.
According to the National Weather Service in Duluth, a powerful Alberta Clipper is forecast to move through the region from Wednesday night through Thursday night. Forecast models show the system will track quickly but pack enough strength to produce accumulating snow and gusty winds, especially across northern portions of the Midwest.
The highest confidence for snowfall currently includes northern Minnesota, but accumulating snow is also possible across parts of Wisconsin and Michigan, depending on the exact storm track. Meteorologists caution that even modest snowfall amounts could create outsized impacts due to the system’s strong winds.
The clipper is expected to be accompanied by strong to gusty winds, particularly Thursday afternoon, increasing the risk of blowing and drifting snow. These conditions could significantly reduce visibility, especially in open and rural areas.
Travel may become difficult at times across the Upper Midwest, including major corridors in Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Drivers are urged to monitor forecasts closely as timing and snowfall amounts are refined over the next 24 to 48 hours.
This system follows a stretch of active winter weather across the region, including recent extreme cold and hazardous lake conditions on Lake Superior. Forecasters note that the combination of snow and wind — rather than heavy snow alone — may be the primary concern with this event.
The National Weather Service says additional updates are expected as the clipper approaches, and residents should be prepared for rapidly changing conditions late Wednesday into Thursday.
