Blizzard warnings in Northwest Minnesota, winter weather advisories across the state

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Behind a strong cold front, more of the precipitation across Minnesota is switching from rain to areas of freezing rain and snow.

As of Friday morning, the strong cold front that brought Thursday’s changing weather has now moved through all but the Arrowhead, which it will move through by midday.

This means the entire state will be noticeably colder Friday, with most of the afternoon temperatures only in the 20s or low 30s.

The colder air means many of the places that were still seeing rain, including the Twin Cities, are switching to some areas of freezing rain Friday morning. Then as temperatures continue to cool, light snow is possible. Other parts of the state, like northwest Minnesota have seen predominantly snow since Thursday.

Here is the radar as of 6:38 a.m., which shows another heavier band of snow currently in North Dakota headed for northwestern Minnesota, where there have already been a couple isolated reports of 8 inches or more of snow: 

The bands of rain on the radar in the Arrowhead and east of the Twin Cities have already started to see freezing precipitation mix in. Other than those larger bands of precipitation, most additional precipitation Friday will be light.

Because of these conditions, as of 7 a.m., northwest Minnesota is still under a winter storm warning (pink),  and most of eastern Minnesota is under a winter weather advisory (purple).

Most of the precipitation has already ended for southwestern Minnesota. Other areas of precipitation will continue to clear out west to east, clearing western Minnesota by early afternoon. 

Precipitation completely exits most of the state by Friday night.  Here are the projected end times:

Western Minnesota could start to see a little sun by late afternoon, and the entire state sees sunshine return Saturday. That extended forecast will be updated around 9 a.m. 

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

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Nicole Mitchell 

Author

Behind a strong cold front, more of the precipitation across Minnesota is switching from rain to areas of freezing rain and snow.


Areas of snow and ice are causing a slow start Friday

Go Deeper.

Like this?