Christmas storm update
Some story updates from MPR's Madeleine Baran.
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This could be the biggest snowstorm in at least 10 years for many parts of Minnesota.
The major winter storm is moving into Minnesota late today and tonight. If you have travel plans within Minnesota, it will be best to arrive at your destination by 9 p.m. tonight. A winter storm warning is in effect for the Twin Cities from 9 p.m. tonight to 6 a.m. Saturday.
Here are the latest forecast trends and snowfall amounts with the storm.
- The big picture is remarkably consistent, as it has been all week. Expect snow in most of Minnesota, mixing with sleet and ice in the southeast quarter of the state, from tonight into Saturday.
- It appears precipitation will remain all snow during the entire storm north and west of the Twin Cities.
- Prolonged ice storm conditions may occur Thursday for southeast Minnesota, including Rochester and Winona.
- The Twin Cities should see snow beginning this evening. The snow may change to sleet and ice Christmas Eve, before changing back to all snow Christmas Day.
- The big, slow moving low will stall through Saturday just southeast of Minnesota. This will produce a long duration snow event of 48 to 60 hours for many areas.
- It appears the heaviest snow will fall in a band along 40 miles either side of Highway 23 in Minnesota. This includes Marshall, Redwood Falls, Willmar, St. Cloud, Brainerd, Hinckley, and Duluth. These areas could see 15" to 20"+ by Sunday, with some totals approaching 30" possible.
- From Mankato to the Twin Cities, a mix of freezing rain on Christmas Eve could reduce snow amounts slightly. Anywhere from 12" to 18"+ is likely in the Twin Cities by Sunday. If the precip remains all snow in the metro, there could be over 20" in some areas, especially in the west and northwest metro. In areas that see several hours of sleet and freezing rain on Christmas Eve, snowfall totals cloud be as little as 7 inches. This is most likely in the east metro.
Overnight Cobb output suggests a potentially lower snow total for Twin Cities Airport of near 8 inches. This reflects the change to freezing rain on Christmas Eve.
- Look for a possible significant ice storm in southeast Minnesota, along with 6" to 12" of heavy wet snow by Sunday.
This storm may set both daily and storm snowfall records for many areas of the state. If we get 16" in the metro, it will equal the biggest single storm snowfall in over 10 years. We received 16" in March of 1999.
The storm is unlikely to break the record for the Twin Cities largest snowfall - the "Halloween Blizzard" in November of 1991. That storm dumped 28.4" of snow in the metro area.
The bottom line is regardless of eventual snowfall totals, travel conditions will be difficult to impossible in much of Minnesota over the next several days. Hopefully you can arrive at your holiday destination and just enjoy the snow. This should be a great holiday for kids of all ages who love playing in and looking at big snow.
Here are some links to keep track of updated weather conditions today.
Travel safe and have a great Holiday!
- Cobb snowfall output for Twin Cities MSP airport