BACK TO BACK CLIPPER SYSTEMS WILL BRING DECENT SNOWFALL TOTALS THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

We have made it through the first week of winter, and it has been a cold start to the new meteorological season.  The first seven days have ranked as the top 20 coldest on record across the Northland, and Monday will continue this trend with highs only in the upper single digits and teens.  Cloud cover was a reason for this, along with an oncoming slew of moisture from the Pacific Northwest as the atmospheric river bringing high rainfall and snowfall to this portion of the country will become back-to-back clipper systems.

The first clipper system will pass through Monday evening and overnight.  While everyone will see some snow showers with up to 2 inches, the heaviest snowfall will be north of Highway 2.  A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and most of St. Louis counties for snowfall totals of 3 to 6 inches, with the highest likely along the South Shore.  Winds will become light with low temperatures in the single digits and teens.

After a break from the snow showers Tuesday morning, the second clipper system will come through during the afternoon, evening, and overnight hours.  This one will have more moisture than the first one, and track a bit more south.  While the Arrowhead region will see a dusting of new snow, the totals quickly increase as you head south and west from here.  A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for southern Aitkin, Burnett, and Pine counties for 4 to 8 inches of new snowfall.  A new Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the rest of the area along and south of Highway 2 for 3 to 6 inches.  Winds will remain light with highs warming to the 20s.

We will have dry conditions the rest of Wednesday and most of Thursday with highs in the teens and lows in the single digits.  A third clipper system this week will pass through late Thursday and Friday with more light snow showers.  After that, we will be back to the depths of winter chill as the weekend will see highs staying in the single digits above and below zero.  It won’t be record lows, but ranging 10 to 20 degrees below average.  At least there will be some sunshine before a new clipper system returns early next week.

Chief Meteorologist Rusty Mehlberg