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Boreal Community Media

BLIZZARD WARNING: Snow expected throughout Wednesday night followed by dangerous wind chills

Dec 23, 2020 05:13AM ● By Editor
Graphic: NWS Duluth

From the National Weather Service - Duluth MN - December 22, 2020

A strong winter storm will continue to produce heavy snow, blowing snow, and blizzard conditions into Wednesday night. The worst conditions will be found along the North Shore down into the Twin Ports, and Interstate 35 corridor where a combination of heavy snow and gusty winds will cause treacherous driving conditions and near zero visibility.

Further west, the snow will be a bit lighter but gusty winds will still cause blizzard conditions at times. The heaviest snowfall accumulations overnight will be found across northwest Wisconsin, where lake-effect will cause higher snowfall amounts greater than 6 inches.

Lake-effect snow will continue into Christmas Eve along the South Shore, bringing snowfall totals greater than one foot for parts of Iron County. After the snow moves out for most areas later tonight, bitterly cold temperatures will cause wind chills as low as 25 degrees below zero on Christmas Eve.

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Blizzard Warning

  • Issued by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration

    40 mins ago
AREAS AFFECTED : SOUTHERN COOK, NORTH SHORE; SOUTHERN LAKE, NORTH SHORE

...HEAVY SNOW...MIXED PRECIPITATION...AND STRONG WINDS EXPECTED... 
 
.A strong winter storm will continue to produce heavy snow and 
blizzard conditions across the Northland this evening. The 
Blizzard Warning has been expanded to include the Interstate 35 
corridor into the Twin Ports and North Shore through midnight as 
heavy snow is expected along wind gusts above 35 mph to produce 
blizzard conditions. Additional accumulations in this area will 
range from 3 to 5 inches with lesser amounts further west. Across 
northwest Wisconsin, winds will be less gusty but heavier snow 
will be found with lake-enhancement along the South Shore. In 
addition, temperatures hovering just above freezing will quickly 
drop well below freezing this evening, causing surfaces to freeze 
very quickly. Snow will end for most areas around midnight, except 
for the South Shore where lake-effect will linger into Christmas 
Eve. Following the snow, bitterly cold temperatures with wind 
chills as low as -25 to -30 will be common Christmas Eve. 
 
...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT... 
 
* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations of 3 
to 5 inches. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph. 
 
* WHERE...Southern Lake and Southern Cook Counties. This 
includes the Tribal Lands of the Grand Portage Reservation. 
 
* WHEN...Until midnight CST tonight. 
 
* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Widespread blowing 
snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous 
conditions could impact the evening commute. Strong winds could 
cause tree damage. The cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero 
could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 
minutes.

 

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