Overview
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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 |
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| Waves at Black Beach in Silver Bay, MN Photo by Dennis Fawver |
Lake Superior waves at Two Harbors, MN |
Duluth, MN, Stoney Point |
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| 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 |
These rocks were deposited on the bench by huge waves |
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| Erosion from the waves along Duluth's lake walk Photo by Ken Slatten |
Duluth's Canal Park strewn with debris |
Damage to Duluth's lake walk |
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| High waves and surf flooded parts of Grand Marais, MN Photo by Sarah Holt Stover |
Erosion of road along Lake Superior in Herbster, WI |
Near McQuade Harbor; North Shore |
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| U. S. Hwy 2, Ashland, WI Photo by Gary Jackson |
Ashland, WI |
Ashland, WI |
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| Bayfield, WI Photo by Gary Jackson |
Bayfield, WI |
Bayfield, WI |
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:
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Duluth surfer |
Hermantown Photo by Mary Truscott |
Hovland, MN Photo by Linda Newman |
South Range, WI Photo by Kathy McGillan-Nelsen |
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Carlton, MN |
Hermantown Photo by Amanda Graning |
Fish Lake, MN Photo by Janet Geriets-Olson |
Superior, WI Photo by Amanda Jean |
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Ely, MN |
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 |
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Town of Superior, WI |
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.
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| Figure 1: Tues, Oct. 24 | Figure 2: Wed., Oct. 25 | Figure 3: Thur, Oct 26 |
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| 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 |
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