Brandon Weatherz: Bitter cold, gusty winds, and lingering snow

Bitter cold and wintry weather will continue to impact the Northland into the weekend. Now that winds are picking up and temperatures are remaining frigid, wind chills will consistently be an issue, especially for northern Minnesota and Burnett Co. where a Wind Chill Advisory is in effect until 12 pm Saturday. Feels like temps will range from -20 to -40 in this area through this period. Keep pets in, limit time outside, and limit exposed skin.

Most of the Northland is under either a Winter Weather Advisory or Winter Storm warning until 12 pm Saturday as well. The Warning lasts until 6 pm Saturday for Lake, Cook, Bayfield, Ashland, and Iron Co. Gogebic and Ontonagon Co. are in a Blizzard Warning beginning at 12 am Friday and lasting until 6 pm Saturday.

Our Thursday begins with scattered snow showers. We dry out from the southwest through the morning. By this evening, we look to the South Shore where lake effect snow will be beginning. Most of the additional snow through Saturday will fall here. We’ll also look to the Arrowhead and Borderland where snow may prove to be stubborn Friday and Saturday. For the rest of the Northland, the main impact to travel Thursday to Saturday will be winds gusting near 45 mph and widespread blowing and drifting snow.

Additional snow will be less than an inch generally along and south of U.S. Hwy 2 in Minnesota. Amounts increase going northeast toward the tip of the Arrowhead where around 6” are still possible. In Northwest Wisconsin, amounts increase moving eastward. 3-6” are possible for much of Washburn and Sawyer Co. 6-12” fills out Bayfield Co., Iron Co. enters 12-18” potential, and 18-24” is possible for parts of Iron and Gogebic Co.

Today: Scattered snow in the morning, then patchy blowing snow. Mostly cloudy. High -2. NW wind 10-20 mph. Chance of snow: 70%. Less than 1” expected.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy and windy with blowing snow. Low -10. NW wind 20-25 mph G 45. Chance of snow: 20%

Tomorrow: Widespread blowing snow. Mostly cloudy. High 0. NW wind 20-30 mph G 45. Chance of snow: 20%

Tomorrow night: Mostly cloudy and windy with blowing snow. Low -7. NW wind 20-30 mph G 45. Chance of snow: 20%

Saturday: Partly cloudy and windy with blowing snow. High 4. NW wind 20-30 mph G 40.

Sunday: Mostly sunny and breezy. High 8. NW wind 10-15 mph.

Monday: Mostly sunny. High 10. NW wind 5-10 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance for snow. High 20. S wind 5-10 mph. Chance of snow: 20%

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance for snow. High 27. SE wind 5-10 mph. Chance of snow: 20%