A major winter storm targets Minnesota with heavy snow by Friday

Temperatures plunge through the day Tuesday

Another blast of cold air spreads across Minnesota Tuesday, then a major snow storm with heavy snow and high winds hits by the end of the week.

Tuesday’s weather

The mostly light snow that moved across Minnesota Monday and overnight into Tuesday is still lingering in parts of northern Minnesota. The snow and occasional light freezing drizzle will end by late morning.

After the precipitation moves out, northern Minnesota will see a little sun, but remain mostly cloudy. Southern Minnesota will see clearing skies and a more sunshine by afternoon. The snow was courtesy of a cold front that is already dropping temperatures around the state.

High temperatures were set for most of Minnesota early Tuesday morning, and almost the entire state will be 10 or more degrees cooler by the afternoon.

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weather graphic
Tuesday afternoon temperatures
National Weather Service

Additionally, because of breezy conditions on Tuesday, most of the state will feel at least another 10 degrees cooler than the air temperature due to wind chill.

Wednesday’s snow and Thursday’s cold

Another round of predominantly light snow moves into Minnesota overnight Tuesday and the entire state sees light snow chances by the Wednesday morning commute.

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Wednesday morning snow
National Weather Service

Except for the Arrowhead, where snow could linger through the evening, snow will move out by Wednesday afternoon. Snow totals will be 0-2 inches for the majority of the state, but a corridor from about Moorhead to Duluth could see 2-4 inches.

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Wednesday snow forecast
Pivotal Weather

Temperatures Wednesday vary from the single digits in northwestern Minnesota to low 20s in southeastern Minnesota.

By Thursday morning, almost the entire state will start the day below zero, and northwestern Minnesota could see negative temperatures all day.

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Thursday morning lows
National Weather Service

Despite the cold, Thursday will likely be the sunniest day of the week.

A major snow storm Friday

A potent storm starts to spread snow across southern Minnesota overnight Thursday, and the entire state will likely see snow by Friday morning and continuing through part of Saturday.

Currently, it looks as though the center of the storm may skirt across southern Minnesota, meaning some of the heaviest snow could fall slightly north of that line, in a corridor that includes the Twin Cities.

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Storm position late Friday
Tropical Tidbits

There is still some uncertainty as to exact track and moisture, but it looks as though all of Minnesota will see accumulation, with parts of southern Minnesota seeing a possible 6-plus inches. Some models project up to a foot of snow or more between Friday and Saturday.

Here is the Nested Grid Model that shows those possibly higher totals:

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NGM model's snow forecast Friday to Saturday
Pivotal Weather

It will also be breezy on Friday, with even higher winds Saturday. Wind gusts Saturday could be well above 30 mph, especially for western Minnesota.

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Saturday afternoon winds
National Weather Service

This means areas of blowing snow are possible.

While exact snow totals may still be uncertain, this is a major storm that will impact travel Friday and Saturday.

Behind the storm, very cold air moves back in, and most of Minnesota is likely to see subzero temperatures again by Sunday morning.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:48 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.