'Energetic' storm gradually moving across Minnesota
Forecasters predict an energetic spring storm will travel across the state this afternoon through Tuesday morning, with varying conditions -- from blizzard and winter storm warnings, to freezing rain and strong winds.
Snow is already falling in the far northwestern corner of the state. Heavy snowfall is expected for much of eastern North Dakota through north central Minnesota, according to Shawn Devinny, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Chanhassen.
• March Lion roars, from blizzard to thunderstorms
"This time of year, when we're transitioning from the winter towards summer, we get really energetic storm systems," he explained. "So this is another kind of classic spring storm system."
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A blizzard warning is in effect from far western Minnesota into North Dakota, and then farther north, heavy snowfall amounts are expected. The heaviest area of snow is expected from Grand Forks through International Falls, where more than a foot of snow could fall, Devinny said.
Six or more inches of snow could fall from just north of Moorhead east toward northern St. Louis County.
"Then really strong winds, pretty much everywhere by tonight," Devinny said.
The strong winds will include the Twin Cities, but from there south "will be the warm part of the storm," according to Devinny. Tonight, winds and gusts of 20 to 30 miles per hour are likely, and will last all night.
"People probably won't see those winds in the Twin Cities until after midnight," he said. "And it's still going to be pretty windy in the morning [Tuesday]."
Duluth and the North Shore area will see a different impact.
"We're really concerned about freezing rain and ice accumulation -- it looks like that could be significant along the North Shore, which will be very hazardous obviously for travel," Devinny said.
The storm is expected to gradually move through the state today and tonight, ending Tuesday morning, he said.
"It's going to take its time kind of progressing eastward," Devinny said. "So southern Minnesota will see some light rain here this morning in the next couple hours, much of the north central part of the state and then through the northeast won't see the wintery weather until this afternoon and into tonight."