“Conversational precipitation” arrives on the North Shore to close out April

In the final days of April, the North Shore has been greeted by what Duluth-based meteorologist Kevin Huyck deems as “conversational precipitation.”

Huyck said this week that North Shore residents have on several occasions looked out the window to see rain or, sometimes, snow. In Cook County, snow flurries occurred on Wednesday, and many area residents woke up to a light dusting of snow on Thursday, April 30.

“So we’ll continue with that probably through the weekend,” Huyck said.

While snow did not appear to stick to the ground in the immediate Grand Marais area, farther inland up the Gunflint and Sawbill Trails, it did.

Sawbill Canoe Outfitter owner Claire Shirley shared in an April 30 Facebook post that temperatures hovered at 29 degrees Thursday morning. Ice-out conditions had been progressing up until the recent colder temperatures, and now, with fresh snow. Shirley said Sawbill Lake had a fresh layer of snow, and the “punky black ice looked good again.”

While ice-out has been progressing, many other lakes within the Superior National Forest and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness still contain ice.

As April comes to a close and May arrives, forecast daytime temperatures are in the low 40s, and overnight temperatures are in the mid-20s in inland Arrowhead areas, according to the National Weather Service.

Then, as May begins, Huyck said the North Shore will see “more substantive rain chances coming.”

WTIP’s CJ Heithoff spoke with National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Huyck on April 30 about the weather forecast as this month comes to a close and more spring-like temperatures are on the way. Audio below.

Kalli Hawkins April 30, 2026