Spectacular waterfall forecast along the North Shore

It could be one of the most spectacular waterfall shows Minnesota has seen in a long while.

Heavy snowfall this winter

Some locations in the higher terrain above Grand Marais and Lutsen Several locations have recorded 100 to 135 inches of snow this season.

Deep winter snowpack above the North Shore is starting to drain from the watershed into area rivers. With 2 to 3 feet of snow still on the ground in some locations in the Lake Superior watershed, this could be one of the most memorable waterfall shows in years.

Check out the latest Minnesota DNR snow cover map. You can see the zone of 2 to 3 feet on the ground in parts of Cook County.

Snow water equivalent

Now look at NOAA’s analysis of snow water equivalent. (SWE) SWE is the assessed amount of liquid water sitting in the snow cover. There are 8 to 10 inches of liquid water locked up in the snowpack above the North Shore.

All that water will be released over the next few weeks as the snowpack melts. The liquid runoff will channel into the network of rivers that drain along the North Shore.

It’s still early in the melting process along the North Shore. But check out how the Knife River between Duluth and Two Harbors has already spiked nearly 2 feet higher in recent days.

Flood potential

How quickly the snow melts above the North Shore will determine how rapidly rivers rise in the next few weeks. Current forecast models also suggest the chance for some heavier rain along the North Shore next week. That could drive rivers rapidly higher. If the melt happens fast enough, there is the potential for flooding and potentially some road washout damage on river crossings.

Here’s a waterfall map from Visit Cook County to see the locations of the best waterfalls on the North Shore.

Get ready for what looks like an amazing waterfall season along the North Shore in the next few weeks.