Brian D

NWS Duluth summary of the last storm we had here. They are calling it the "Blue" Blizzard of Dec 2022. Interesting reason for the name in the last paragraph. https://www.weather.gov/dlh/BlueBlizzardDec2022 A powerful, long duration winter storm brought widespread snowfall amounts of 8 to 24 inches across parts of northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin, with areas around Lake Superior receiving up to 30 inches of snow. A wintry mixture of sleet, freezing rain and snow began Tuesday (December 13th) afternoon and evening, spreading northeast overnight Tuesday night and into Wednesday (December 14th) morning. This first wave of precipitation brought a widespread 6 to 12 inches of snow. We had a break in the snowfall during the day on Wednesday, but it started up again Wednesday night and continued into Thursday (December 15th), bringing another 8-20 inches of snow. This second wave of precipitation was nearly all snow, enhanced by the main upper level low pressure system as it moved close to the area. Lighter snow lingered into Friday and Saturday, December 16th and 17th. A low pressure system developed over eastern Colorado early Tuesday, moved northeast to eastern Nebraska by Wednesday morning, then to east-central Minnesota by Thursday morning, lingering there through Friday before moving off to the northeast Friday night and Saturday. The storm resulted in a long period of poor road conditions, with strong winds causing blowing and drifting snow. There were also widespread power outages, with some people reporting no power for over two days! Notable with this storm was how wet and heavy the snow was, with 3-day liquid equivalent values of 1 to 4 inches. The wet quality of this snow, unusual for winter storms in this area, heavily weighed down trees and power lines. The density of the snowpack also exacerbated the quality of snow to absorb the red end of the visible light spectrum, transmitting the blue end, which led to many folks observing a glacier blue color in holes and cracks in the snow as they cleared it. Because of this blue color, as well as the very wet quality of the snowfall, NWS Duluth has taken to referring to this snow as the Blue Blizzard of 2022.

Winter Storm Warning, heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 7 to 10 inches. Winds gusting as high as 60 mph. Wed-Sat Most of the snow will be tomorrow into tomorrow night with east winds, but then the winds kick in out of the NW Thurs-Sat with light snows, and ground blizzard conditions at times. I'd imagine there could be near hurricane force winds along the eastern shores of Lake Michigan as the low bombs out over Lower MI.

3" of snow reported this morning, and a very cold day with single digit highs. Shipping season will be closing in a couple weeks. Here's an arrival in Duluth this morning in the sea smoke. Horn blows are the typical salute between Aerial lift bridge, and boat captains. You can see ice already forming in the harbor.

Looks like I'm in the mix now with Storm (Blizzard)watch for 4-8" and 55mph winds from Wed pm thru Sat am. Wow.

2-3" of snow on tap maybe a little more, but then temps crashing into the bitter range for the rest of the week. After a string of milder Dec's, this one will make winter lllloong. Oh well, might even have a chance to see record snows this year for some stations. I made note of them in my sig below. Strong start to the snow season.

Good luck guys!!

2" more here in town for a storm total of 10" imby. Now the bitter weather on tap next week. Highs in the single digits to single digits below zero. BRRR!

LES squalls moving through today. Another couple inches on tap, a little more for some depending on location, and intensity of the squalls.

Still snowing just inland. No returns over the lake, or near shore. Should be some pretty decent numbers to add to the already huge totals for those folks.

Storm total imby around 8". Co-op site on the shore 2.5". Just north of town 2'+. BIG difference in proximity from the water. So NWS forecast was pretty good. Still expecting some lighter snows as the system moves east. A colder E/NE to NE fetch coming up could bring more LES. Will have to watch for that.

Lost power at 3 am. Lines arcing behind the house. Tree over the lines or something. Brilliant green flashes with the arcing sound. Fired up my Aladdin oil lamps, and turned on the gas stove for heat. It always feels like the hunting shack when I have to do that. Sit, and smoke with some Mtn Dew, and snacks for something to do while listening to the wind, and watching the snow fall out the window. A beer or cocktail would be in hand in my younger days. It's 4:30 am now, and it looks like about 3" more fell. Very wet, heavy stuff. Compacts quickly. Inland is just a little cooler, so more gets squeezed out, especially with the orographic lifting.

Snow reforming from the SE. Could be a fairly steady light/mod snow tonight. 12-15" totals being reported this afternoon away from the lake.

Snow bands have moved north. About 5" here in town. Very heavy stuff. From now on, the lake will have to put up in order to hit those big totals NWS Duluth put out. Don't think that'll happen, but we'll see how it goes the next couple days.

3-6" around the TH area this morning. Co-op observer right on the shore recorded only 1", which is not unexpected. About 3" imby. Reports from Duluth, and Brimson have around 8". Excellent snowman snow. Heavier band just moved in, so starting to accum much quicker again. Blizzard warnings for the shore, and head of the lake are a little over blown. Not quite that bad.

All snow now. A little sheen of ice underneath to make travel treacherous.

Temps are currently running 31-34 in the area. 34 here in town. Precip is mixed at the moment. Can hear the pinging on the windows. Ice forming on the deck, and sidewalks.

Totals jacked up this aftrn since the early morning forecast, and ice a factor for some, too. Winds have picked up to gusts of 40mph with the first batch of heavy snow on the doorstep. Let it rock!

Yeah, 1-2' for sure. Blizzard warning for the North Shore with winds up to 45 mph. BRING IT!!

Wed looking like sloppy weather with heavy wet snow, and freezing rain mixed in during the day. What will be interesting is the lingering trough into the weekend. Could be a good set up for lake banding. The inland areas of the North Shore should do really well this week.

President's Day looking cold as well. Again, watch the southern areas.

For Valentine's Day, looking cold with some weak activity in the north. Watch for some potential energy affecting the southern areas.

Wonder if that's in a small valley. Temps can really dip in that situation just like here in NE MN. Some locations are perfect for big temp drops.

Colder season blues. Tends to be quite cloudy. Some areas even more than others. Happens here at times, too.

Another couple inches of wet snow this morning. Looking forward to the bigger totals next week starting Tues night into Thurs.

Interesting.