Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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The snow Thursday remained light, but visibility dropped enough to still create travel concerns. After a cold and quiet Friday, another storms brings  a rain and snow mix over the weekend.

Many of us are familiar with some of the different weather products the National Weather Service (NWS) issues when winter weather strikes, ranging from “winter storm watches” to “blizzard warnings.” 

There is a new product the NWS is disseminating starting this season called a “snow squall warning.” If you were in the Twin Cities area Thursday morning, you might have noticed the first-ever warning of this type issued for the area as the line of snow moved through.

Snow squalls are similar to blizzard conditions, with a combination of snow and high winds causing low visibility or whiteout conditions, but they last for a much shorter duration than a blizzard.  

When you hear this new warning issued, be sure to travel with care or wait to travel until conditions improve.

The snow band that triggered the snow squall warning earlier Thursday continues to move out of southeastern Minnesota Thursday evening.  As the snow exits, skies clear late Thursday, and under clear skies, temperatures really drop overnight. The entire state will be in the teens, with even a few single digits by Friday morning.  

Most of Minnesota has seen air this cold already this season, but the coldest temperature so far for the Twin Cities was 16 on Oct. 27, and Friday morning could beat that as the coldest low so far this season.  

The rest of Friday stays sunny, but colder than average, with highs in the 30s.

By Saturday, much of Minnesota could see the lower 40s again, which is closer to average for mid-November. A new weather system moves in Saturday, with light rain chances across most of the state starting in the afternoon, and some snow mixing in, especially in northern Minnesota. 

Most of the precipitation clears out by early Sunday, however the northern edge of the state will likely see a little light snow linger into Sunday afternoon.  No significant accumulation is currently expected.

That system drops temperatures slightly, so most of the state will see highs back in the 30s on Sunday.  

Here is that forecast for the Twin Cities:

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

The snow Thursday remained light, but visibility dropped enough to still create travel concerns. After a cold and quiet Friday, another storms brings  a rain and snow mix over the weekend.


The Twin Cities gets its first-ever 'snow squall warning'

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