First of two storms moving in

Our well-advertised snow system is increasing its grip on Minnesota. Radars are lighting up across Minnesota as snow moves northward.

Remember, you can catch up-to-the-minute updates as the storm unfolds on the MPR News severe weather live blog.

Here's my latest thinking on the two inbound snow systems.

System No. 1, Thursday night/Friday morning:

Winter weather advisories cover much of the state into Friday morning.

• Snow now in southern Minnesota moves north into the Twin Cities late afternoon.

• Snow through tonight ending Friday mid-morning in the Twin Cities.

• Heaviest snowfall rates occur Thursday night between about 8 p.m. and 3 a.m. Widespread 2- to 5-inch totals across most of Minnesota, with some local 6-inch totals possible by noon Friday.

System No. 2, Saturday evening into Sunday morning

• There are still track uncertainties with this system, but there is high confidence the storm will hit some parts of Minnesota.

• Best chance of heavy snow at this point favors a zone from Interstate 90 in southern Minnesota around Austin and Albert Lea, through the Twin Cities and Eau Claire, Wis., and into northern Wisconsin.

• This storm has the potential to produce 5 to 10-plus inches  in the heavy snow zone. It’s still too early to pinpoint precisely where that zone will lay out.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

224 PM CST Thu Feb 22 2018

...WIDESPREAD SNOW TONIGHT WITH SEVERAL INCHES EXPECTED...

...MAJOR WINTER STORM POSSIBLE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY

NIGHT...

.A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for the entire area

tonight. Steady snow will overspread the area by this evening. The

snow could be heavy at times before ending late tonight. A brief

period of freezing drizzle is also possible after the snow ends

across southern Minnesota into western Wisconsin. Snowfall totals

will range from around 3 inches across southern Minnesota to 4 to

6 inches across central Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Little

or no ice accumulation is expected.

A Winter Storm Watch has been issued from Saturday afternoon

through Saturday night for areas east of a line from Canby to

Little Falls, Minnesota. Moderate to heavy snow will overspread

the area again Saturday afternoon, continuing through most of

Saturday night before ending by Sunday morning. Snowfall totals

of 6 to 12 inches are expected in the watch area. In addition,

strong northwest winds gusting to 35 mph Saturday night will lead

to areas of blowing snow, especially across southern and western

Minnesota. Travel could become very difficult Saturday night

through early Sunday.

Here's the view from the National Weather Service Duluth office.