Winter storm warnings in northern Minnesota

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It’s Easter Sunday, and snowflakes are falling. The last time that measurable snow was recorded on Easter Sunday at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was in 2008.

The snow will be heavy at times, and you can expect wind gusts to 35 mph and low visibilities. Here’s a Sunday morning scene from southeastern Minnesota:

The southern half of Minnesota and much of Wisconsin will see snow this Sunday and Sunday evening. Parts of northeastern Minnesota will have snow late Sunday and overnight Sunday night.

The snow will be heavy at times today and this evening in southern Minnesota, the Twin Cities metro area, and much of Wisconsin. Parts of southeastern Minnesota may hear thunder at times, with a mix of rain and snow that changes to all snow.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale (NAM) forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern Sunday afternoon through Monday morning:

The heaviest snow will tend to fall from southern Minnesota into Wisconsin, but some locations in the southern and eastern parts of the Twin Cities metro area may see 6 or more inches of snow before it ends.

Let’s take a closer look at forecast snow amounts:

6 inches or more of snow will be possible in the south metro and parts of the east metro. That would be in Scott and Dakota county into Washington County. The downtown areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul may be closer to 3 to 4 inches. The far northwestern edge of the 7-county metro area may see less than 3 inches. As the NWS graphic notes, there will be a sharp cutoff to the snow on the northwestern side of the storm, and that may shift as the storm develops.

Notice the 8+ inch amounts in parts of southern Minnesota and on toward Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some double-digit snow totals in that swath of heaviest snow.

Northwestern Wisconsin will also see some heavy snow:

Here’s a look at forecast snow totals in southeastern Minnesota and southern Wisconsin:

Winter storm warnings (pink) are in effect Sunday into early Monday for much of southern Minnesota plus south and east portions of the metro area and portions of western Wisconsin:

Hennepin County, (which includes Minneapolis) and Ramsey Counties (includes St. Paul), as well as Carver and Anoka county, are in a winter weather advisory today and tonight. Those areas are expected to be generally in the 2 to 5 inch snow total range by late evening. The winter weather advisory extends west to around Marshall.

Here are NWS details of the winter storm warning:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 1034 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 ...Heavy Snow Expected This Afternoon And Into The Evening... .A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for areas along and south of a line from Springfield through New Ulm to Cottage Grove in Minnesota, continuing to New Richmond and Rice Lake in Wisconsin. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for a small swath of counties just to the north of that line, including the Twin Cities metro area. Bands of light to occasionally moderate snowfall will become heavier this afternoon, especially in the warned area. The heaviest snowfall will shift into west central Wisconsin this evening before tapering off overnight. Snowfall rates of one inch per hour or higher are possible, especially this afternoon and early evening, which will allow the snow to quickly accumulate. The chance for snowfall amounts of 6 inches or more appears highest from southern and east central Minnesota into west central Wisconsin. Local amounts of around 10 inches are possible in the warning area. In addition, this will likely be a heavy, wet snow, so some tree damage and power outages could occur due to the combination of gusty winds and the heavy wet snow. MNZ063-069-070-074>078-082>085-091>093-122345- /O.CON.KMPX.WS.W.0004.000000T0000Z-200413T0900Z/ Washington-Scott-Dakota-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue- Watonwan-Blue Earth-Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn- Including the cities of Stillwater, Shakopee, Hastings, New Ulm, St Peter, Le Sueur, Faribault, Red Wing, St James, Mankato, Waseca, Owatonna, Fairmont, Blue Earth, and Albert Lea 1034 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM CDT MONDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph. * WHERE...Portions of east central, south central and southeast Minnesota. * WHEN...From 7 AM this morning to 4 AM CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Due to the heavy, wet nature of the snow, tree damage and power outages could occur. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

Here are NWS details of the winter weather advisory that includes Minneapolis and St. Paul plus the north metro:

Chisago-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Renville-McLeod-Sibley-Carver- Redwood- Including the cities of Center City, Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Olivia, Hutchinson, Gaylord, Chanhassen, Chaska, Victoria, and Redwood Falls 1034 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM CDT MONDAY... * WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central and southwest Minnesota. * WHEN...From 7 AM this morning to 4 AM CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be difficult. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Due to the heavy, wet nature of the snow, tree damage and power outages could occur. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

A change in the storm track or the speed of this storm will affect snow totals. You can hear updated weather information on the MPR 

, and you’ll see updated weather info on the MPR News 

It’s probably good to remember that April snow tends to melt within a few days.

Snow may linger into Monday morning in parts of western Wisconsin and far northeastern Minnesota. The Twin Cities metro area could see a passing rain shower or snow shower on Monday. Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to be around 40 Monday and Tuesday, followed by lower 40s Wednesday, upper 40s Thursday and lower 50s on Friday. We may be close to 60 next Saturday.

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Ron Trenda

Author

Snow and strong winds will be with us through Sunday afternoon and into Sunday evening. The snow will be heavy at times. We have the latest info on snow accumulations, plus a look at the week ahead.

Snow and strong winds continue Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening

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