Ice Storm and Hail in Minnesota, March 28 to 29, 2025

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
1232 PM CDT Fri Mar 28 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Mixed precipitation and breezy conditions are expected today
  and tonight. Freezing rain and icing is the main hazard with
  some light accumulating snow as well.

- Scattered thunderstorms are possible today, and isolated
  strong to severe storms could produce hail up to quarter size
  in northwest Wisconsin.

- Another storm may bring accumulating ice and snow to parts of
  the Northland Saturday evening through Sunday evening.

- Accumulating snow is possible for parts of the Northland early
  to mid next week.

- Gale Warning for all of western Lake Superior Friday morning
  through at least Saturday night.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 334 AM CDT Fri Mar 28 2025

Well, here we are with some messy winter weather approaching
(oh, and some thunderstorms). We're looking at two systems
starting today and lasting through the weekend, then potentially
a third one in the early to middle part of next week.

Storm #1 (Today and tonight):

Strong warm air advection ahead of approaching low pressure has
created quite an inversion across the region this morning, which
was evident on 00z soundings and radar with quite a bit of
anomalous propagation. A narrow band of fgen snow has developed
just north of the Canadian border, and despite radar echoes
appearing aloft over the Grand Portage area, webcams reveal no
precipitation falling due to very dry air lingering in place.
Moisture is building in from the south, as evident by plenty of
stratus developing and moving north over Wisconsin, and this
will continue to bring overcast skies to the region today.

As low pressure moves across southern Minnesota today and
tonight, a combination of synoptic forcing and some elevated
instability will introduce high (>70%) chances for wintry
precipitation and scattered thunderstorms. The best elevated
instability (up to ~500-1000 J/kg MUCAPE) will be found over
northwest Wisconsin, and while severe threats remain low,
there's a ~2-5% chance that some scattered storms this afternoon
and evening could produce some hail up to quarter size over
northwest Wisconsin as a cold front pushes through. While
thunderstorm chances will be less north of US 2, even a few
rumbles of thunder can't be ruled out there with some steep
lapse rates above the inversion.

Switching gears to discuss the winter precipitation threat, the
first point to note is that the nature of the precipitation that
develops will be quasi-convective due to aforementioned steep
lapse rates aloft. The strong inversion in place is expected to
keep precipitation in the form of rain for many places, and with
temperatures hovering around to even slightly below freezing
this morning, the freezing rain threat persists. That said, the
best synoptic forcing south of the fgen snow band to the north
will move into northeast Minnesota mid-morning or so, and this
will also coincide with temperatures starting to warm up. While
the threat for freezing rain still remains, confidence is not
high that overall ice accumulations even in favored areas inland
of Lake Superior in the Arrowhead will see significant ice
accumulations except perhaps in very localized areas. The best
chances for moderate to heavy freezing rain will be this
afternoon when temperatures are also expected to rise to around
or slightly above freezing. Even if temperatures remain around
freezing in the Arrowhead, the quasi-convective nature of the
precipitation could lead to more-or-less light freezing rain at
times with intermittent showers/storms with any brief bursts of
moderate/heavy rain leading to some runoff as opposed to
completely icing on contact. With all that said, Winter Weather
Advisories have been left unaltered for this update. Snow
accumulations along the border are not expected to exceed 4 or 5
inches, and amounts that high are expected to be localized
around the border with lesser amounts further south.

Breezy northeast winds accompany the mixed precipitation today.
As a cold front moves southeast into this evening, the South
Shore could see a period of light icing, though confidence has
decreased a bit in amounts. Most places may see just a light
glaze with perhaps some locally higher amounts if any showers or
storms move over a particular area. Low pressure moves out of
the area going into Saturday, leading to a briefly quiet period
leading into the next system.

Storm #2 (Late Saturday through Sunday evening):

A Colorado-style low is expected to bring a swath of mixed
precipitation to the region starting in the very late afternoon
to evening hours on Saturday. Uncertainties still abound with
the track of this system, but there is at least a little better
model agreement that firmly favors northwest Wisconsin at having
the best chances for snow/ice accumulations, and perhaps
clipping parts of east-central Minnesota and up the North Shore
with some accumulating snow as well.

There will again be a strong area of warm air advection ahead of
this low, producing an inversion that could bring a corridor of
freezing rain. At this point, confidence is highest for this
around Price County, which is where a Winter Storm Watch has
been issued. Further northwest, where mostly snow is expected,
amounts still remain pretty uncertain. Several inches of snow
are possible at this time, and there is a possibility for a
more focused area of fgen snow that could lead to some 6"+
totals (~20-40% chance). There is just too much spread in the
models for where any heavier snow bands may set up at this time,
keeping confidence too low to issue any Winter Storm Watches
further northwest, but expansions may be needed in future
updates. Breezy north to northeast winds will accompany the
snow, and the snow consistency should be heavy and wet. Stay
tuned for more updates on this one!

Sunday night through mid-week:

Cooler air will spill into the region after Sunday's mixed
precipitation. Brief high pressure should lead to a break in the
active weather on Monday. There remains some favorable model
agreement that another Colorado-style low could bring more
precipitation chances to the Northland around Tuesday-Wednesday
next week, and with colder air likely to still be in place, some
accumulating snow may be possible. More updates to come for this
system as well.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1231 PM CDT Fri Mar 28 2025

A mess of conditions today with areas of rain, freezing rain, snow,
and drizzle making their way across the region. Freezing rain should
turn to rain with a slight warm up into this afternoon before
becoming freezing rain, ice pellets, and snow this evening and
overnight across the north. In northwest Wisconsin, thunderstorms
are possible this evening for HYR. Expected northeast winds to
continue through the TAF period with gusts of 15-25knots, up to 35
knots at DLH. Precipitation should come to an end into Saturday
morning.

&&

.MARINE /FOR NEAR SHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR/...
Issued at 334 AM CDT Fri Mar 28 2025

Marine headlines have not been changed for this update.
Northeast winds are expected to increase in strength through
today. Gale warnings go into effect mid-morning with gusts from
30 to 40 kt expected through Saturday morning along with wave
heights up to 13 ft. Winds may briefly decrease through Saturday
evening before increasing again slightly going into Sunday as
another storm passes by to the south. The Gale Warning may need
to be extended, but right now there is only a ~30% chance that
winds will reach gale force on Sunday. Winds switch to northerly
Sunday night, and gusts will gradually decrease but remain
hazardous for small craft through early Monday morning.

Two storms producing the strong northeast winds through the
weekend will bring periods of moderate to heavy mixed
precipitation.

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

&&

.DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...Winter Weather Advisory until 1 AM CDT Saturday for MNZ010>012-
     018>021-026-037.
WI...Winter Weather Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 7 AM CDT
     Saturday for WIZ001>004.
     Winter Storm Watch from Saturday evening through Sunday
     evening for WIZ009.
MARINE...Gale Warning until 1 AM CDT Sunday for LSZ121-140>148-150.

&&

DISCUSSION...JDS
AVIATION...Levens
MARINE...JDS

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Duluth MN
334 PM CDT Fri Mar 28 2025

MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038-WIZ001>004-006>009-292045-
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-
334 PM CDT Fri Mar 28 2025

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and Tonight

A storm system will bring a variety of hazards to the Northland
this afternoon into tonight from snowfall to ice to
thunderstorms. The best chance for snow accumulation will be in
far northern Minnesota where an additional 1 to 4 inches are
expected. Some ice is possible for much of the rest of the
Northland except southern areas. Ice amounts will be highest in
the Arrowhead at around a tenth to quarter inch of ice. Untreated
roads will become snow and ice covered and slippery where ice and
snow occur. Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for all but
southern portions of the Northland. Thunderstorms are possible for
most areas today into this evening, although highest chances will
be over southern portions. There is a risk for isolated severe
storms over portions of northwest Wisconsin with hail to one inch
in diameter being the main hazard.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

A second round of wintry precipitation is expected Saturday
afternoon into Sunday. Significant ice accumulations will be
possible in north-central WI Saturday night into Sunday. An Ice
Storm Warning is in effect for Price County, where confidence in
ice accumulations of a quarter inch or greater is highest. In
addition to ice accumulations, moderate and wet snowfall is
expected along the South Shore to the I-35 corridor. Use extreme
caution if traveling in northwest Wisconsin this weekend or
consider delaying travel if possible.

Yet another round of accumulating snow is possible Tuesday night
into Wednesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Snow spotters are requested to report precipitation type, hail, and
measurements of snow or ice accumulations to the National Weather
Service. Spotters and the public can also report precipitation
type and hail with the free M-PING smartphone app.

LSZ121-140>148-150-292045-
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-
334 PM CDT Fri Mar 28 2025

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and Tonight

Strong easterly winds will continue this afternoon into tonight
with gusts building to 35 to 40 knots and those winds will persist
into the weekend. Wave heights will build to 7 to 12 feet with
some as high as 16 feet. Gale Warnings are in effect.
Thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Strong easterly winds persist into the weekend. Gales of 35 to 40
knots are expected into at least Saturday night. Wave heights may
reach up to 16 feet. Gale Warnings are in effect and additional
Gale Warnings or Small Craft Advisories may be needed through
Monday.

Another period of strong winds will develop Tuesday into
Wednesday.

Unruh

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

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Duluth MN
233 PM CDT Fri Mar 28 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0232 PM     Freezing Rain    Hibbing                 47.43N 92.94W
03/28/2025  E0.10 Inch       St. Louis          MN   Public

            0.1 inches of ice accumulation on a vehicle.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Duluth MN
328 PM CDT Fri Mar 28 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0317 PM     Hail             5 NNW Kimberly          46.63N 93.49W
03/28/2025  M0.25 Inch       Aitkin             MN   Trained Spotter

&&

klh