Clear skies and a cool air mass are setting up another patchy frost across the Northland tonight.
Two Frost Advisories cover northern Minnesota into Wednesday morning, while Lake Superior and Lake Michigan deal with their own hazards on the water.
Northwest Minnesota: Frost Advisory Near Lake of the Woods
The NWS Grand Forks office has a Frost Advisory in effect from 4 AM to 8 AM CDT Wednesday.
It covers Roseau, Lake of the Woods, East Marshall, North Beltrami and North Clearwater counties, where temperatures could drop to 36 degrees.
Baudette, Roseau, Red Lake, Bagley, Middle River and Newfolden are all inside the advisory area.
Koochiching County: Frost Advisory for International Falls
The NWS Duluth office has the same overnight window in effect for Koochiching County, including International Falls, with lows also expected near 36 degrees.
A Cold, Clear Night Across the Northland
Both advisories are part of the same setup: clear skies, calm winds and a cool air mass settling over northeast and northwest Minnesota alike.
The wider outlook stays quiet after tonight. There’s only a 20 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms Friday night and Saturday morning, mainly along and south of US-2. Skywarn spotter activation isn’t expected tonight.
Lake Superior: Small Craft Advisory Eases Tonight
Out on the water, wind gusts of 20 to 30 knots and waves are gradually easing this afternoon into the evening, but a Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for Lake Superior into tonight.
Forecasters say hazardous wind and waves could return Friday and Saturday, so this is likely a short break, not the end of it.
Lake Michigan: High Rip Current Risk This Afternoon
Further south, the NWS Green Bay office is warning of a high risk of rip currents on Lake Michigan beaches through late this afternoon or early evening.
Additional thunderstorm chances build later this week into the weekend across north-central and northeast Wisconsin, though the severe weather risk is considered low.
What Frost Can Do
Frost can harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Plants left uncovered overnight may not survive until morning.
What to Do Tonight
Protect what you can, while you can. Potted plants have it easiest, just move them indoors or into a garage for the night. Anything still in the ground needs a cover: a bedsheet, towel or frost cloth draped down to the soil traps enough ground heat to make a real difference. Skip the plastic sheeting directly on the leaves, though, since it conducts cold rather than blocking it.
Don’t forget the pipes. Outdoor faucets, hoses and irrigation lines are just as exposed as your plants are. Disconnect and drain garden hoses, and shut off and drain any spigots that aren’t insulated. It only takes a few minutes, and it’s a lot cheaper than dealing with a burst pipe later.
Time it right. The coldest air usually settles in right around sunrise, so cover plants before bed and don’t uncover them until temperatures climb back above freezing the next morning.
What Comes Next
Winds ease and skies clear through the day Wednesday across the region, setting up a quieter stretch before the next system arrives.
Tonight’s frost risk is the main event. After that, the pattern turns wetter and windier again by the end of the week.
