Gale Warning 21, NWS Duluth, MN

027 
WHUS73 KDLH 092058
MWWDLH

URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Duluth MN
358 PM CDT Wed Sep 9 2026

LSZ140-100300-
/O.CON.KDLH.GL.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260909T2200Z/
/O.NEW.KDLH.SC.Y.0103.260909T2200Z-260910T0300Z/
Grand Portage to Grand Marais MN-
358 PM CDT Wed Sep 9 2026

...GALE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...For the Gale Warning, west winds around 20 kt with 
  gusts up to 35 kt and waves 3 to 5 ft. For the Small Craft 
  Advisory, west winds 10 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and 
  waves 2 to 5 ft expected.

* WHERE...Grand Portage to Grand Marais MN.

* WHEN...For the Gale Warning, until 5 PM CDT this afternoon. 
  For the Small Craft Advisory, until 10 PM CDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Strong winds will cause hazardous waves which could
  capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions.
Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the
vessel for hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

LSZ121-147-148-150-100300-
/O.CON.KDLH.GL.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260909T2200Z/
/O.NEW.KDLH.SC.Y.0103.260909T2200Z-260910T0300Z/
Chequamegon Bay-Bayfield to Oak Point WI-
Sand Island to Bayfield WI-Oak Point to Saxon Harbor WI-
Outer Apostle Islands Beyond 5 NM from Mainland-
358 PM CDT Wed Sep 9 2026

...GALE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...For the Gale Warning, west winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts
  up to 35 kt and waves 1 to 3 ft. For the Small Craft Advisory, 
  west winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and waves 1 to 3 
  ft expected.

* WHERE...Chequamegon Bay-Bayfield to Oak Point WI, Sand Island 
  to Bayfield WI, Oak Point to Saxon Harbor WI and Outer Apostle 
  Islands Beyond 5 NM from Mainland.

* WHEN...For the Gale Warning, until 5 PM CDT this afternoon. 
  For the Small Craft Advisory, until 10 PM CDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Strong winds will cause hazardous waves which could
  capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions.
Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the
vessel for hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

LSZ141>146-100100-
/O.EXT.KDLH.SC.Y.0102.000000T0000Z-260910T0100Z/
Grand Marais to Taconite Harbor MN-
Taconite Harbor to Silver Bay Harbor MN-
Silver Bay Harbor to Two Harbors MN-Two Harbors to Duluth MN-
Duluth MN to Port Wing WI-Port Wing to Sand Island WI-
358 PM CDT Wed Sep 9 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...West winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and waves 
  1 to 3 ft.

* WHERE...Portions of Lake Superior. 

* WHEN...Until 8 PM CDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Anyone operating a smaller vessel should avoid navigating in
hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
221 AM CDT Wed Sep 9 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Strong west-northwest winds are expected today, with gusts of
  25 to 35 mph forecast, strongest in the Minnesota Arrowhead.

- Additional precipitation chances arrive late this week into
  the weekend. There is a slight risk (level 2 out of 5) for
  strong to severe thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening.

- A pattern change to noticeably cooler temperatures is favored
  this weekend into early next week.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 221 AM CDT Wed Sep 9 2026

Today and Thursday:

Cold front #1 is moving through the region this morning, with
breezy west winds increasing and dewpoints decreasing in its
wake. Most locations across northeast MN now have dewpoints in
the 50s, and already had a few gusts of 20-25mph. The front has
now pushed into northwest WI, with Superior now with a dewpoint
of 55F. Ahead of the front, where dewpoints are in the 60s,
patchy fog might be possible, but with elevated boundary layer
winds do not expect widespread or significant vis reductions.

A secondary front will quickly move through the region this
morning. There might be a few widely scattered showers or
sprinkles across north central and northeast MN, but expect most
of the area to remain dry. Northwest winds will increase, with
gusts of 25-35 mph through this afternoon. Strongest winds will
be across the Arrowhead and North Shore.

Winds diminish this evening, with high pressure building into
the area. After daytime temps warm into the mid 60s to mid 70s,
lows tonight will fall into the low 40s to low 50s. There is a
low chance (10-20%) that a few locations in the Arrowhead fall
below 40F by early Thursday morning. The airmass moderates
Thursday, and temperatures warm back into the 70s region wide,
with sunny skies and breezy southwest winds.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...
Issued at 240 PM CDT Tue Sep 8 2026

Friday - This Weekend:

We see a couple rounds of precipitation chances return for
Friday into this weekend. The first round would be with a
surface low ejecting out of the northern Plains daytime Friday
and through northern Minnesota Friday PM into early Saturday
morning. Strong warm/moist advection with this system in
combination with strong synoptic forcing for ascent driven by a
strong mid/upper-level shortwave trough and jet could set the
stage for isolated to scattered strong to severe storms Friday
afternoon and evening when the best instability/strong shear
combination would overlap. Still some question as to how far
north the warm-sector of this low pressure system would make it
into the Northland depending on the forecast ensemble low
tracks. As of now, the portion of the Northland with the best
potential for strong to severe storms would be along/south of
US-2 in northeast Minnesota into far northwest Wisconsin. Storm
intensities should wane towards Friday night, with
showers/remnant non-severe storms ending west to east into early
Saturday morning.

Additional showers and perhaps a few general storms are
possible (10-30% chance) on Sunday with weak troughing moving
though largely zonal flow aloft, but instability will be limited
at best, so likely to be mainly just showers.

We also see the shift to a cooler pattern starting this weekend
with high temperatures in the low 60s to low 70s on Saturday and
60s on Sunday. Lows Saturday and Sunday nights could even touch
the upper 30s to mid 40s, though the typical cold spots could
see mid-30s even! For now, the potential for areas of frost
remains less than 20%.

Early Next Week:

The cool pattern persists into early next week with highs in the
60s and possibly even some upper 50s on Monday, with nightly
lows in the upper 30s to 40s. Global ensemble members and
deterministic models show fairly good agreement on a more
robust, Colorado low-type system developing in the lee of the
Rockies as a deeper mid/upper-level trough moves across the High
Plains into Upper Midwest Sunday night through Monday night.
This would bring a good shot at more widespread rain and
appreciable rainfall amounts should the forecast system track
hold over the next several days.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 114 AM CDT Wed Sep 9 2026

A cold front is moving through the Northland tonight, with
breezy west winds behind the front. Winds at 8-10kts overnight
will increase, with gusts of 20-25kts by 14Z. Already seen
gusts at INL and DLH. Other than sct to bkn cigs between 4-5kft
at INL, skies will be mostly clear.

A secondary front will move through the area Wednesday morning.
CAMs show a few showers along that boundary, but chances are low
at any given terminal. Skies will be VFR, with westerly gusts up
to 30kts through the day. Winds will diminish Wednesday
evening.

&&

.MARINE /FOR NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/...
Issued at 221 AM CDT Wed Sep 9 2026

Southwest wind gusts of 15-20 kt will continue overnight as a
cold front moves through the region. Small Craft Advisories are
in effect. Winds expected to increase through the morning, with
localized gale force gusts possible over the Outer Apostles to
Saxon Harbor and Grand Marais to Grand Portage. Gusts of 30-35
kt are most likely, and a Gale Warning is now in effect
beginning at 12Z. Small Craft Advisories remain in effect for
west- southwesterly wind gusts up to 25-30 kt elsewhere. Winds
are expected to weaken out of the west Wednesday night as high
pressure moves in, though portions of the North Shore could see
gusts to 15 to locally 25 kt on Thursday afternoon, mainly near
Grand Portage. Expect additional potential for conditions
hazardous to small craft on a more widespread basis in western
Lake Superior on Friday and Saturday.

Thunderstorm chances return Friday afternoon into Friday night,
some of which could be strong to severe.

For the open water discussion, refer to the NWS Marquette Area
Forecast Discussion at weather.gov/mqt.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 221 AM CDT Wed Sep 9 2026

Strong west-northwest winds expected today, with gusts of 25-40
mph expected. The strongest winds are expected in the higher
terrain of the Arrowhead. Lingering low- level moisture will
keep min RH at or above 40%, and some sprinkles or even very
light rain showers are possible this morning in northern
Minnesota into the Arrowhead. Winds ease Wednesday evening as
high pressure builds into the area. Lighter southwest winds are
in store for Thursday, though afternoon gusts of 10-15 mph are
expected. Thursday will be rain-free and sunny with min RH
dipping into the mid 30s to mid 40s (%), lowest in northwest
Wisconsin.

Friday and Saturday will be windier again, though humidity will
be on the increase as shower and thunderstorm chances return
Friday afternoon into early Saturday morning. Isolated to
scattered strong to severe thunderstorms will also be possible
Friday afternoon and evening, with the best potential across
north central and northeast Minnesota.

See the Fire Weather Forecast product for a more thorough
breakdown of fire weather conditions.

&&

.DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...None.
WI...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM CDT this morning for LSZ121-
     140-147-148-150.
     Gale Warning from 7 AM this morning to 5 PM CDT this afternoon
     for LSZ121-140-147-148-150.
     Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for
     LSZ141>146.

&&

UPDATE...HA
DISCUSSION...Rothstein
AVIATION...HA
MARINE...HA
FIRE WEATHER...HA

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Duluth MN
151 AM CDT Wed Sep 9 2026

MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038-WIZ001>004-006>009-100700-
Koochiching-North St. Louis-Northern Cook/Northern Lake-
North Itasca-Central St. Louis-Southern Lake/North Shore-
Southern Cook/North Shore-North Cass-South Itasca-South Cass-
Crow Wing-Northern Aitkin-South Aitkin-Carlton/South St. Louis-
Pine-Douglas-Bayfield-Ashland-Iron-Burnett-Washburn-Sawyer-Price-
151 AM CDT Wed Sep 9 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast
Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Patchy dense fog is possible in northwest Wisconsin early this
morning. Fog will lift shortly after sunrise.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

A low pressure system will move across the region Friday and
Friday night which will bring a chance of thunderstorms to the
Northland. A few strong to severe storms are possible during the
afternoon through the evening hours. Most of the Northland is
under a 2 out of 5 risk of severe storms. The lowest risk is east
of a line from near Seagull Lake to Port Wing to Siren,
essentially most of northwest Wisconsin and the tip of the
Arrowhead. The main risk from storms is large hail and damaging
wind gusts. Locally heavy rainfall which could lead to flash
flooding is also possible.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Skywarn spotter activation is not anticipated today or tonight.

LSZ121-140>148-150-100700-
Bayfield to Oak Point WI-Grand Portage to Grand Marais MN-
Grand Marais to Taconite Harbor MN-
Taconite Harbor to Silver Bay Harbor MN-
Silver Bay Harbor to Two Harbors MN-Two Harbors to Duluth MN-
Duluth MN to Port Wing WI-Port Wing to Sand Island WI-
Sand Island to Bayfield WI-Oak Point to Saxon Harbor WI-
Outer Apostle Islands Beyond 5 NM from Mainland-
151 AM CDT Wed Sep 9 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Lake Superior
and the Nearshore waters of western Lake Superior.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Strong west to southwest winds are expected today. Gales to 35
knots are expected near Grand Portage and over portions of the
Outer Apostle Islands to Saxon Harbor late this morning through
this afternoon. A Gale Warning is in effect for those areas.

Elsewhere, Small Craft Advisories are in effect for wind gusts to
30 kt.

Wave heights of 3 to 7 ft are expected around the Outer Apostle
Islands and from Grand Marais to Grand Portage through this
afternoon.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Strong south and southwest winds are possible Friday and
Saturday. Conditions may be hazardous for small craft.

A few thunderstorms are possible Friday afternoon through early
Saturday morning. A few storms may be strong to severe. Large hail
and wind gusts up to 40 knots the main risk.

Huyck

More information may be obtained at the following web address:
http://www.weather.gov/duluth