3 years in a row: Tracking another April snowstorm
Winter storm watches expanded to include south and east Twin Cities metro area
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We’re tracking another April snowstorm threatening Minnesota. This is the third straight year we’ve seen potentially powerful snow system in mid-April.
The next major forecast model runs roll in between 10 p.m. and midnight Friday night. Here are the latest trends late Friday.
Winter storm watches expanding
The Twin Cities National Weather Service office has expanded the winter storm watch zone for Sunday. The expanded watch area runs from southern Minnesota into northwest Wisconsin. It includes the south and east portions of the Twin Cities area.
Including the cities of Stillwater, Shakopee, Hastings, Le Sueur, Faribault, Red Wing, Mankato, Waseca, Owatonna, Fairmont, Blue Earth, Albert Lea, Hudson, River Falls, Menomonie and Durand
330 PM CDT Fri Apr 10 2020
WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...
* WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches or more possible.
* WHERE...Portions of west-central Wisconsin and east central, south-central and southeast Minnesota.
* WHEN...From Sunday morning through Monday morning.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Due to the heavy, wet nature of the snow, tree damage and power outages could occur.
Here’s the latest situation report from the Twin Cities NWS office.
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Models: Shifting north
The overall forecast model trend has been a northward shift in Sunday’s storm track and snow zone. The European model has been leading this trend. The Canadian is also bullish on bringing accumulating snowfall into the Twin Cities.
The heaviest snow axis still favors southeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. That’s the most likely zone for snowfall totals of 5 inches to as much as 10 inches. The zone from Albert Lea, Austin, Rochester, and Winona, Minn., through Eau Claire and Osseo, Wis., look likely to see heavy snow Sunday.
Here’s one more forecast model perspective on snowfall totals. Notice how the Canadian model lays out the heavy snow zone, and puts the Twin Cities on the northern edge of the plowable snow zone.
Clearly, even a small 40-mile shift north or south would dramatically alter eventual Twin Cities snowfall totals.
The best chance for seeing 4 or more inches of snow lays out just south and east of the Twin Cities.
Active April snow years
We’ve had a run of active April snowfalls the past couple years. Here are the biggest April snow events on record for the Twin Cities.
Stay tuned.
