Storm Update: Sloppy inch so far, heaviest snow tonight into Friday
Blizzard and winter storm warnings into Friday.
The first snowstorm of 2021 is unfolding across Minnesota through Friday. Here’s an update on expected storm conditions through Friday.
Blizzard and winter storm warnings
Blizzard warnings cover southwest Minnesota and have been extended eastward to include the I-35 corridor in southern Minnesota.
Including the cities of New Ulm, St James, and Fairmont
235 PM CST Thu Jan 14 2021
...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.
* WHERE...Watonwan, Martin and Brown Counties.
* WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 6 PM CST Friday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.
Winter storm warnings include the southern Twin Cities. Winter weather advisories include most of the Twin Cities and much of central Minnesota.
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Scott-Dakota-Rice-Goodhue- Including the cities of Shakopee, Hastings, Faribault, and Red Wing 235 PM CST Thu Jan 14 2021
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST FRIDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 9 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.
* WHERE...Portions of east central, south central and southeast Minnesota.
* WHEN...From noon today to 6 PM CST Friday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.
Snowfall so far
It’s been a mixed bag of rain, some ice, and snow today. There are also lulls in the precipitation shield, producing quiet periods with no precipitation as the storm is still winding up.
So far much of the Twin Cities and central Minnesota have seen about an inch of sloppy snow.
1 ENE Maple Plain [Hennepin Co, MN] TRAINED SPOTTER reports SNOW of 1.50 INCH at 1:46 PM CST -- 1.5 INCHES OF SNOW SINCE 7:30AM
Edina [Hennepin Co, MN] BROADCAST MEDIA reports SNOW of 0.80 INCH at 12:40 PM CST --
Heaviest snow tonight and Friday morning
The low-pressure center will deepen over southwest Wisconsin then drift south through Iowa late tonight into Friday. As it does, bands of heavier snowfall will wrap westward around the north side of the system. That should push heavier bands of snow back into the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota tonight into Friday.
Watch how NOAA’s NAM 3 km resolution model flares with bands of moderate to heavier snow that rotate into the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota this evening into Friday. Here’s the model output for midnight.
Snowfall totals
Overall a zone of 5” to 10” looks likely from the Twin Cities southward. There could be some local 12” totals across southern Minnesota especially from Mankato south through the I-90 corridor. Lower totals between 3” and 6” will cover most of central into northern Minnesota.
Blizzard conditions in southern Minnesota
Winds are already howling in southwest Minnesota. Winds will increase, and travel will deteriorate tonight and Friday across most of southwest and southern Minnesota. Wind gusts from 30 mph to more than 50 mph will make reduce visibility in snow and make some roads impassable.
Bottom line: Expect the worst conditions with this winter storm to occur tonight through at least midday Friday.