Weekend weather: Saturday brings wind, soaking rain; some will see snow

I’ve was born in Minnesota, and I’ve lived in Minnesota almost my entire life; spending two of my five college years in Wisconsin. Although I’m used to snow, I don’t like snow in late March. By late March, I’ll bet most of us have started looking forward to spring.

Having said that, I have to talk about some accumulating snow for parts of Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin Saturday evening into early Sunday.

A strong low-pressure system will spin moisture across much of Minnesota Friday night into Saturday.

Many areas will see soaking rains Saturday and Saturday night, with a transition to snow late Saturday afternoon/Saturday evening in parts of central Minnesota and most of northeastern Minnesota plus part of northwestern Wisconsin. The precipitation continues into early Sunday in many areas.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern Friday evening through Sunday:

The NAM forecast model shows snow extending into the Twin Cities metro area by late Saturday night into Sunday morning, but it may be more of a rain/snow mix for the metro area during that time.

One forecast model gives the metro area mostly rain this weekend. Sunday afternoon looks dry in most areas.

Rainfall amounts this weekend are expected to be over 1 inch in the dark green-shaded area that includes the metro area and much of Minnesota/northwestern Wisconsin.:

The yellow-shaded area in southwestern Minnesota could tally 2 inches of rain.

Several counties in southwestern Minnesota are in a flood watch Saturday through Sunday morning:

Details of the flood watch:

Flood Watch National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 344 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2020 MNZ071-072-080-097-098-SDZ040-055-056-062-067-272215- /O.NEW.KFSD.FA.A.0001.200328T1200Z-200329T1200Z/ /00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/ Lincoln-Lyon-Murray-Pipestone-Rock-Brookings-Lake-Moody-Minnehaha- Including the cities of Tyler, Hendricks, Lake Benton, Ivanhoe, Marshall, Slayton, Fulda, Pipestone, Luverne, Brookings, Madison, Orland, Flandreau, Sioux Falls, Canton, Lennox, Tea, and Harrisburg 344 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2020 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a * Flood Watch for portions of southwest Minnesota and South Dakota, including the following areas, in southwest Minnesota, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, and Rock. In South Dakota, Brookings, Lake, Lincoln, Minnehaha, and Moody. * From Saturday morning through Sunday morning * A long duration of moderate to occasionally heavy rainfall will develop by Saturday morning and persist into Saturday night. Rainfall totals between 1 and 3 inches may be possible. * This moderate rainfall on top of saturated ground, may lead to significant ponding of water. In addition, area streams and rivers may rise and reach or exceed flood levels. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

Enough snow to shovel and plow northeast

Yes, there will probably be enough snow to shovel and plow over much of northeastern Minnesota from late Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning:

Here are details of the winter storm watch which begins late Saturday afternoon in northeastern Minnesota and part of northwestern Wisconsin:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Duluth MN 348 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2020 ...HEAVY WET SNOW EXPECTED SATURDAY NIGHT... .A spring storm system moving across the Upper Midwest will bring a mixture of rain and snow to the Northland for Saturday through early Sunday. The precipitation is expected to become mostly snow beginning Saturday afternoon and continuing through Saturday night and into Sunday morning before ending. The precipitation will be associated with strong northeast winds Saturday night, with gusts to 35 mph. Snowfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches are possible, along with some locally higher amounts before the snow ends. MNZ012-019>021-035>037-WIZ001-002-272100- /O.NEW.KDLH.WS.A.0003.200328T2100Z-200329T1500Z/ Northern Cook and Lake-Central St. Louis-Southern Lake- Southern Cook-Northern Aitkin-South Aitkin- Carlton and South St. Louis-Douglas-Bayfield- Including the cities of Isabella, Hibbing, Two Harbors, Silver Bay, Grand Marais, Hill City, Aitkin, Duluth, Superior, Washburn, and Bayfield 348 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2020 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Heavy wet snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches with locally higher amounts possible. Northeast winds could gust as high as 35 mph. * WHERE...Portions of northwest Wisconsin and east central and northeast Minnesota. * WHEN...From Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.

You can hear updated weather information on the MPR network, and you’ll see updated weather info on the MPR News live weather blog.

Snow depth

There’s still plenty of snow on the ground across much of northeastern Minnesota. Here’s the latest snow depth map, courtesy of the Minnesota State Climatology Office and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources:

Much of northeastern Minnesota has 18 inches or more of snow cover, and portions of Lake and Cook counties of northeastern Minnesota have snow depths of 30 inches or more. The latest snow depth report from Duluth Airport was 12 inches.

Weekend temps and winds

Saturday highs will be mainly in the 40s, but a few spots in far southeastern Minnesota could top 50 degrees:

Saturday will be windy, with afternoon wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph in central and southern Minnesota and parts of the northeast:

Sunday highs will be in the 40s in many areas, with some lower 50s possible in the Twin Cities metro area and southern Minnesota:

Sunday afternoon wind gusts will be in the 20 to 25 mph range in many locations:

For people who are planning a walk or jog outdoors while maintaining social distancing, Sunday afternoon appears to be the driest part of the weekend.