Brandon Weatherz: Warm Wednesday with maximum melting

Warm weather continues to efficiently melt the considerable snow pack, leading to a Flood Advisory that remains in effect until 12:30 pm Thursday. A Flood Warning is in effect until 4:15 pm Thursday for a portion of northwest Wisconsin where flooding is already occurring. State Highway 13 from Lakeside in Douglas County to Port Wing in Bayfield County has been closed due to multiple culvert failures. More flooding is expected due to runoff from the snowmelt. The National Weather Service in Duluth observed an 8” drop in snow depth yesterday, and similarly significant snowmelt is expected today.

Tyler Forks River near Mellen was at minor flood stage ear Wednesday morning, and is expected to rise to moderate flood stage today and major flood stage by Friday. Bad River at Odanah is expected to rise into minor flood stage today. St. Louis River at Scanlon was below action level Wednesday morning. This area is expected to rise to action stage Friday, minor flood Saturday, and moderate flood Sunday.

Wednesday will then shape up to be the most extreme for snowmelt with temps approaching daily record highs for some under sunny skies. East central Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin will see widespread mid to upper 70s. Mid and upper 60s extend from the Twin Ports across northeast Minnesota. Once again today, winds out of the west southwest keep Lake Superior’s influence limited to areas immediately near it. That will change dramatically tomorrow, when a breezy east wind holds shoreline communities in the 40s. Meanwhile, Hayward returns to 74. Northeast Minnesota will see 50s and 60s under cloudier skies.

We’re still on track for some showers and thunderstorms that could add to flooding concerns. We look in far northern Minnesota for rain chances Thursday. Friday’s rain stays mostly west. Friday night through Saturday night will bring widespread showers and rumbles of thunder. Snow enters the mix Saturday night, Sunday and Sunday night. By Sunday, we’ll have a gear shift back to winter.

Today: Warm and sunny. High 69. WSW wind 5-15 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 40. NNW wind 5-10 mph.

Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy and breezy. High 49. ENE wind 10-20 mph.

Tomorrow night: Mostly cloudy and windy. Low 37. ENE wind 15-20 mph.

Friday: Mostly cloudy and breezy. High 50. ENE wind 10-15 mph.

Saturday: Cloudy and breezy with rain. High 48. NW wind 10-15 mph. Chance of rain: 70%

Sunday: Cloudy and windy with rain and snow. High 38. NW wind 15-25 mph. Chance of precip: 50%

Monday: Mostly cloudy and breezy with a slight chance for snow. High 41. NW wind 10-20 mph.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy and breezy. High 47. N wind 10-15 mph.