Snow favors eastern zones, all quiet Christmas Eve

Note to self. Don't bet against El Niño this winter — at least for the Twin Cities metro.

Our latest faux-winter weathermaker delivered on the promise of rain changing to snow, but not the forecast intensity of snow in the metro. The rain-to-snow mix produced a few white lawns and sidewalks in the northern and eastern metro. Far east metro communities like Hudson may actually eke out that white Christmas after all.

Fridley in the north metro did okay on snowfall as well. A decent if slushy coating of white.

The good news? Even with white grassy coatings, temperatures hovering above freezing meant roads were mainly just wet in the metro for afternoon rush hour.

Snow favors eastern zones

As snow fades in the metro, winter weather advisories and warnings continue from the east metro just north and east, and all the way up the North Shore.

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...OSCEOLA...RICE LAKE...HUDSON

322 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT.

* EXPECT SNOW TO CONTINUE...DIMINISHING AROUND MIDNIGHT.

* THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL RATES WILL OCCUR UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING.

* ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. TOTAL SNOWFALL WILL AVERAGE BETWEEN 5 AND 8 INCHES.

* LOOK FOR SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN VISIBILITY AT TIMES.

* PLAN ON SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS...INCLUDING DURING THE EVENING COMMUTE.

Here's the view from the Duluth NWS office.

Quiet Christmas Eve, still watching Christmas night snow chances

The good news for holiday travelers tomorrow? A quiet break on Christmas Eve and the trip to grandmother's house. Then all eyes turn southwest as the next system pushes this way. Will this one finally be cold enough for all snow?

Here's a more detailed breakdown on timing of the snow chances Christmas night and next week.

Enjoy the quiet travel day Christmas Eve!