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

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It’s not often I type language this urgent and graphic in Updraft posts. But everyone in northern and central Minnesota needs to be aware of a serious damaging wind threat overnight into the wee hours of Saturday morning. 

PDS (Particularly Dangers Situation) Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 1 am

 for much of central Minnesota. Includes far northwest Twin Cities suburbs.

Here’s my latest read on the severe weather situation Friday night after scanning the latest forecast model runs. Changes in storm timing and coverage maybe hour to hour Friday night, so this is a heads up. You’ll need to closely follow NWS, NOAA weather radio, and other sources to keep updated overnight.  

You can hear warnings as they are issued on 

The elevated severe wind damage risk zone overnight favors northern and central Minnesota. Here’s the risk area for the Red River Valley and northwest Minnesota from the Grand Forks NWS office.

Here’s the risk zone from the Duluth NWS office.

The Twin Cities lies on the southern edge of the threat zone. Many forecast models keep storms mostly north of the Twin Cities. A few suggest the Twin Cities could get clipped by storms around 2 to 3 a.m.

Forecast models vary on precise storm timing so this may change. Here is NOAA’s HRRR model. It depicts a bow echo/derecho racing at 40-50 mph from the Red River Valley across northern Minnesota overnight. This loop runs between 7 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday.

Here is my read on the highest risk timing windows for damaging winds in various parts of Minnesota overnight. I can’t list every location, so please infer based on your location. Again, the timing could change a bit so stay updated.

There is an elevated risk Friday night for a widespread damaging wind event. Damaging bow echoes and a long track damaging wind event called a derecho are possible. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has highlighted the potential for “hurricane-force winds.”

Here are the likely impacts on the ground.

Here are some special considerations for safety Friday night with this system. 

Here are some links to severe weather resources.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

There’s an elevated risk for a widespread damaging wind event across northern Minnesota overnight. This type of windstorm has downed thousands of trees in past events. 

Severe weather risk Friday night into Saturday morning

NOAA Storm Prediction Center

Minnesota Public Radio 

Grand Forks NWS Office

Duluth National Weather Service

Twin Cities National Weather Service

NOAA HRRR model between 7 pm Friday and 7 am Saturday

MPR weather alert: Widespread damaging wind event likely across Minn. Friday night

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