Duluth, MN

Weather Forecast Office

Furious Winds and Snow- The October 27th-28th Storm

Overview

Winter came early for much of the Northland in late October; the 27th. Some areas received upwards of a foot of snow while other areas received very little. The Lake Superior shoreline was heavily damaged by relentless waves caused by strong off lakes winds that gusted over 50 mph for many hours.

The Devil's Island lighthouse at the Apostle Islands recorded a wind gust of 68 mph around 11 am, but wind had been building and gusting over 40 mph since late the previuos evening. The UMD buoy on the western tip of Lake Superior recorded a peak wind gust of 43 mph with steady winds of 35 to 40 mph overnight and most of the following day, Friday, October 27th. The buoy recorded waves of 10 to 16 feet. The weather monitoring equipment at the Mcquade safe harbor recorded a peak wind of 45 mph.

The winds and subsequent waves and high surf caused portions of the lake walk in Duluth to get torn up and strewn with rocks and debris. Damage also occurred along both the north shore and south shore of Lake Superior. More information on this damage will be added.

Click on each photo for a larger view:

Snowfall in inches


Waves at Black Beach in Silver Bay, MN Photo by Dennis Fawver	Lake Superior waves at Two Harbors, MN Photo by Theresa Kocka	Duluth, MN, Stoney Point Photo by Greg Johnson


High waves and surf flooded parts of Canal Park in Duluth Photo by Dawn Karlon	Crashing waves tore up portions of the lakewalk in Duluth Photo by Karie McWherter Simpson	These rocks were deposited on the bench by huge waves Photo by Andy Paasch


Erosion from the waves along Duluth's lake walk Photo by Ken Slatten	Duluth's Canal Park strewn with debris Photo by Ken Slatten	Damage to Duluth's lake walk Photo by Greg Johnson


High waves and surf flooded parts of Grand Marais, MN Photo by Sarah Holt Stover	Erosion of road along Lake Superior in Herbster, WI Photo by Dennis Fawver	Near McQuade Harbor; North Shore Photo by Justin Peck


U. S. Hwy 2, Ashland, WI Photo by Gary Jackson	Ashland, WI Photo by Gary Jackson	Ashland, WI Photo by Gary Jackson


Bayfield, WI Photo by Gary Jackson	Bayfield, WI Photo by Gary Jackson	Bayfield, WI Photo by Gary Jackson

Snow/Ice
Photos & Video
Radar
Storm Reports
Environment

Snow/Ice

The highest snowfall amounts were a few miles inland from Lake Superior, while areas close to the lake had very little snow. The highest amounts were in the Hermantown, MN area,and eastward into northwest Wisconsin south of Superior in the Pattison Stae Park areas. Additional Lake effect snow brought toals even higher in the snowbelt area of northern Wisconsin where weather reporters in Gile and Mellen each reported around 14 inches of snow. The heavy wet snow brought down trees and branches that fell on power lines, creating pockets of power outages.

Photos & Video:


Duluth surfer Photo by Sue Syvertsen	Hermantown Photo by Mary Truscott	Hovland, MN Photo by Linda Newman	South Range, WI Photo by Kathy McGillan-Nelsen


Carlton, MN Photo by Karen Johnson	Hermantown Photo by Amanda Graning	Fish Lake, MN Photo by Janet Geriets-Olson	Superior, WI Photo by Amanda Jean


Ely, MN Photo by Melissa Jean	Fernberg Trail, MN (near Ely) Photo by April Emery Cornish	Duluth, MN; Lester River Photo by Jake Trost	Midway Twp, MN Photo by Megan Corazón Con Alas


Town of Superior, WI Photo by Debbie Jean	Hermantown, MN Photo by Carol Christenson	Hermantown, MN Photo by Rhiannon Martineau	Leif Erickson Park Duluth, MN Photo by Ken Slatten

Radar:

Will be added


Caption	Caption	Caption	Caption

Storm Reports

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
315 PM CDT SAT OCT 28 2017

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

0230 PM     HEAVY SNOW       GILE                    46.43N 90.23W
10/28/2017  M13.5 INCH       IRON               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. OVER THE LAST 6 HOURS AN
            ADDITIONAL 1.5 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED. STILL SNOWING
            AT THE TIME OF THE OBSERVATION.

1245 PM     HEAVY SNOW       5 S SOUTH RANGE         46.53N 91.99W
10/28/2017  E9.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            WI   PUBLIC

0930 AM     SNOW             GORDON                  46.25N 91.80W
10/28/2017  E2.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            WI   PUBLIC

0900 AM     HEAVY SNOW       ELY                     47.91N 91.85W
10/28/2017  M7.1 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   PARK/FOREST SRVC

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS AN
            ADDITIONAL 0.7 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED. CO-OP OBSERVER
            ELYM5.

0900 AM     HEAVY SNOW       14 W ISABELLA           47.62N 91.66W
10/28/2017  M9.5 INCH        LAKE               MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS AN
            ADDITIONAL 2.5 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED. CO-OP OBSERVER
            IBLM5.

0830 AM     HEAVY SNOW       BENNETT                 46.45N 91.85W
10/28/2017  M10.0 INCH       DOUGLAS            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0815 AM     SNOW             3 W PHILLIPS            45.70N 90.46W
10/28/2017  M0.3 INCH        PRICE              WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       WRENSHALL               46.62N 92.38W
10/28/2017  M6.8 INCH        CARLTON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION.

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 NW MELLEN             46.33N 90.68W
10/28/2017  M10.5 INCH       ASHLAND            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       KEEWATIN                47.40N 93.09W
10/28/2017  M7.6 INCH        ITASCA             MN   COCORAHS

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS AN
            ADDITIONAL 1.2 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED. COCORAHS
            OBSERVER MN-IT-6.

0800 AM     SNOW             12 N ISLE               46.32N 93.46W
10/28/2017  M4.6 INCH        AITKIN             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS AN
            ADDITIONAL 2.6 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED. CO-OP OBSERVER
            ISEM5.

0730 AM     SNOW             LAKE NEBAGAMON          46.51N 91.69W
10/28/2017  M5.9 INCH        DOUGLAS            WI   BROADCAST MEDIA

0730 AM     HEAVY SNOW       8 W WASHBURN            46.67N 91.06W
10/28/2017  E6.0 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   PUBLIC

            TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION SINCE 11 AM YESTERDAY. STILL
            LIGHTLY SNOWING AT THE TIME OF THE REPORT.

0715 AM     SNOW             3 W BAYFIELD            46.81N 90.88W
10/28/2017  M5.5 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION.

0715 AM     SNOW             5 NE ARNOLD             46.93N 92.03W
10/28/2017  M5.5 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   COCORAHS

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS AN
            ADDITIONAL 3.0 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED. COCORAHS
            OBSERVER MN-SL-105.

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       FINLAND                 47.41N 91.25W
10/28/2017  M10.3 INCH       LAKE               MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS AN
            ADDITIONAL 2.8 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED. CO-OP OBSERVER
            WLFM5.

0700 AM     SNOW             ASHLAND                 46.58N 90.87W
10/28/2017  M0.2 INCH        ASHLAND            WI   COCORAHS

            TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS. COCORAHS
            OBSERVER WI-AS-4.

0700 AM     SNOW             2 N MOQUAH              46.60N 91.08W
10/28/2017  M3.8 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   MESONET

            TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS.

0700 AM     SNOW             HOVLAND                 47.84N 89.97W
10/28/2017  M2.4 INCH        COOK               MN   COCORAHS

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS AN
            ADDITIONAL 1.4 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED. COCORAHS
            OBSERVER MN-CK-7.

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 W CLAM LAKE           46.16N 91.00W
10/28/2017  M6.1 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS AN
            ADDITIONAL 6.0 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED. CO-OP OBSERVER
            CMKW3.

0700 AM     SNOW             BRAINERD                46.35N 94.19W
10/28/2017  M2.8 INCH        CROW WING          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS AN
            ADDITIONAL 0.8 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED. CO-OP OBSERVER
            BRAM5.

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       GURNEY                  46.47N 90.51W
10/28/2017  M6.0 INCH        IRON               WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. SNOWFALL OBSERVED BETWEEN
            12 AM AND 8 AM. CO-OP OBSERVER GURW3.

0700 AM     SNOW             1 WSW MAPLE             46.58N 91.74W
10/28/2017  M5.5 INCH        DOUGLAS            WI   COCORAHS

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS AN
            ADDITIONAL 5.0 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED. COCORAHS
            OBSERVER WI-DG-16.

0700 AM     SNOW             1 WSW TAMARACK          46.65N 93.14W
10/28/2017  M4.7 INCH        AITKIN             MN   COCORAHS

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS AN
            ADDITIONAL 2.2 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED. COCORAHS
            OBSERVER MN-AT-5.

0645 AM     SNOW             5 S HERBSTER            46.76N 91.26W
10/28/2017  M3.5 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION FROM YESTERDAY AND TODAY.
            OVERNIGHT AN ADDITIONAL 3.0 INCHES OF SNOW FELL. STILL
            SNOWING AT THE TIME OF THE OBSERVATION.

0630 AM     SNOW             5 WSW BUTTERNUT         45.99N 90.59W
10/28/2017  M4.0 INCH        ASHLAND            WI   COCORAHS

            TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS. COCORAHS
            OBSERVER WI-PR-2.

0600 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 ENE WRIGHT            46.69N 92.95W
10/28/2017  M6.2 INCH        CARLTON            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS AN
            ADDITIONAL 4.4 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED. CO-OP OBSERVER
            WRIM5.

0600 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 E ORR                 48.06N 92.76W
10/28/2017  M6.3 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS AN
            ADDITIONAL 1.5 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED. CO-OP OBSERVER
            LEIM5.

0113 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 NE HERMANTOWN         46.84N 92.20W
10/28/2017  M10.6 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION

1203 AM     SNOW             5 W WASHBURN            46.67N 91.00W
10/28/2017  E3.0 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   PUBLIC

0933 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 N CLOQUET             46.74N 92.49W
10/27/2017  M9.5 INCH        CARLTON            MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0823 PM     SNOW             1 E IRON RIVER          46.56N 91.40W
10/27/2017  M3.8 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0811 PM     HEAVY SNOW       2 SE MELLEN             46.30N 90.63W
10/27/2017  E8.0 INCH        ASHLAND            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0752 PM     HEAVY SNOW       HOLYOKE                 46.47N 92.39W
10/27/2017  M10.1 INCH       CARLTON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ADDITIONAL 1.1 INCHES OVER LAST 4 HOURS WITH PREVIOUS
            REPORT OF 9 INCHES.

0610 PM     HEAVY SNOW       7 NW TWO HARBORS        47.10N 91.78W
10/27/2017  M7.5 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0245 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 NW SCANLON            46.72N 92.44W
10/27/2017  M10.9 INCH       CARLTON            MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

0230 PM     HEAVY SNOW       MOOSE LAKE              46.45N 92.77W
10/27/2017  M8.0 INCH        CARLTON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. STILL LIGHTLY SNOWING AT
            THE TIME OF THE REPORT.

0156 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 NNE MOOSE LAKE STATE  46.48N 92.70W
10/27/2017  M8.0 INCH        CARLTON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STILL SNOWING.

0130 PM     HEAVY SNOW       ISLAND LAKE             47.01N 92.19W
10/27/2017  E6.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   PUBLIC

0100 PM     HEAVY SNOW       SILVER BAY              47.29N 91.28W
10/27/2017  M7.6 INCH        LAKE               MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. SINCE 6 AM AN ADDITIONAL
            3.4 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED.

1245 PM     SNOW             7 WSW PINE RIVER        46.69N 94.54W
10/27/2017  M3.9 INCH        CASS               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION.

1215 PM     HEAVY SNOW       TWIG                    46.89N 92.36W
10/27/2017  E7.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   PUBLIC

1134 AM     SNOW             1 SW HINCKLEY           46.00N 92.95W
10/27/2017  M3.5 INCH        PINE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1130 AM     HEAVY SNOW       PROCTOR                 46.74N 92.23W
10/27/2017  E6.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   PUBLIC

1100 AM     SNOW             FINLAYSON               46.21N 92.93W
10/27/2017  M4.4 INCH        PINE               MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

1030 AM     SNOW             8 SSW CHEROKEE LAKE     47.87N 90.88W
10/27/2017  M6.8 INCH        COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. SNOW BEGAN AT
            APPROXIMATELY 7 PM LAST NIGHT.

1000 AM     SNOW             NW HINCKLEY             46.02N 92.94W
10/27/2017  M3.5 INCH        PINE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STILL SNOWING AT THE TIME OF THE REPORT.

1000 AM     HEAVY SNOW       ESKO                    46.71N 92.36W
10/27/2017  M8.0 INCH        CARLTON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. SINCE 715 AM AN ADDITIONAL
            3.0 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED.

0945 AM     HEAVY SNOW       COLERAINE               47.31N 93.42W
10/27/2017  E6.0 INCH        ITASCA             MN   PUBLIC

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. SNOW BEGAN AT 830 PM LAST
            NIGHT.

0941 AM     SNOW             1 NNW TWO HARBORS       47.04N 91.68W
10/27/2017  M3.0 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0940 AM     SNOW             EMBARRASS               47.66N 92.20W
10/27/2017  M6.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            0.7 INCHES LIQUID.

0939 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 SW GEORGE CROSBY MANI 47.42N 91.18W
10/27/2017  M8.0 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0930 AM     SNOW             2 SSE PROCTOR           46.72N 92.22W
10/27/2017  E5.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   PUBLIC

0915 AM     SNOW             3 E MOTLEY              46.34N 94.58W
10/27/2017  M2.3 INCH        CASS               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0915 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 SSW THOMAS LAKE NEAR  47.21N 91.72W
10/27/2017  M8.0 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0915 AM     SNOW             CROSBY                  46.49N 93.96W
10/27/2017  E5.0 INCH        CROW WING          MN   PUBLIC

0900 AM     SNOW             CONGDON PARK            46.82N 92.06W
10/27/2017  E4.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   PUBLIC

0900 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 NNE FINLAND           47.45N 91.22W
10/27/2017  M8.8 INCH        LAKE               MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. SINCE 7 AM AN ADDITIONAL
            1.3 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATED. STILL SNOWING AT THE TIME
            OF THE OBSERVATION.

0824 AM     SNOW             21 N GRAND MARAIS       48.06N 90.34W
10/27/2017  M5.8 INCH        COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0816 AM     SNOW             7 NE TWO HARBORS        47.10N 91.57W
10/27/2017  M5.0 INCH        LAKE               MN   PUBLIC

            STILL SNOWING.

0807 AM     SNOW             7 NW TWO HARBORS        47.10N 91.78W
10/27/2017  M5.1 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0803 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 N MAHTOWA             46.62N 92.63W
10/27/2017  M7.0 INCH        CARLTON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     SNOW             1 SW CROSSLAKE          46.67N 94.11W
10/27/2017  M5.0 INCH        CROW WING          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     SNOW             2 E CELINA              47.87N 93.02W
10/27/2017  M5.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0730 AM     SNOW             GRAND RAPIDS            47.23N 93.52W
10/27/2017  E5.0 INCH        ITASCA             MN   PUBLIC

0700 AM     SNOW             NORTHOME                47.87N 94.27W
10/27/2017  M6.4 INCH        KOOCHICHING        MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             4 W GRAND MARAIS        47.76N 90.43W
10/27/2017  M2.1 INCH        COOK               MN   COCORAHS

0700 AM     SNOW             LUTSEN                  47.64N 90.71W
10/27/2017  M2.8 INCH        COOK               MN   COCORAHS

            STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION. COCORAH OBSERVER MN-CK-3.


0630 AM     HEAVY SNOW       CHISHOLM                47.49N 92.88W
10/27/2017  M8.3 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   COCORAHS

            COCORAHS STATION MN-SL-15, CHISHOLM.

0600 AM     SNOW             LARSMONT                46.98N 91.75W
10/27/2017  M0.0 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRACE OF SNOW ON THE LAKESHORE

0600 AM     SNOW             6 SSW GRAND RAPIDS      47.15N 93.57W
10/27/2017  M4.8 INCH        ITASCA             MN   COCORAHS

0600 AM     SNOW             4 ESE CASINO            46.40N 94.46W
10/27/2017  M3.0 INCH        CASS               MN   COCORAHS

0600 AM     SNOW             3 E FINLAND             47.41N 91.18W
10/27/2017  M5.5 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

Environment

A Canadian low pressure area moved southeast into northwestern Minnesota Thursday, October 26 and into northwestern Wisconsin the following day. The low spread rain, then snow across northern Minnesota Thursday afternoon and overnight while most of Wisconsin's precipitation remained rain. However, during the day on Friday the rain in northern Wisconsin. The potent low pressure system caused extremely strong northeast winds that were funneled down the long stretch of Lake Superior. The abnormally high lake level combined with the strong winds and high waves caused shoreline damage and flooding along both north and south shores of Lake Superior.


Figure 1: Tues, Oct. 24	Figure 2: Wed., Oct. 25	Figure 3: Thur, Oct 26

Figure 4: Fri, Oct. 27

Figure 2: Sat., Oct. 28

Figure 3: Sat, Oct 29

Near-storm environment summary.


Figure 4: Caption	Figure 5: Caption	Figure 6: Caption

Additional environmental data.


Figure 7: Caption	Figure 8: Caption	Figure 9: Caption

Media use of NWS Web News Stories is encouraged!
Please acknowledge the NWS as the source of any news information accessed from this site.