Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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The first snowstorm of 2021 is unfolding across Minnesota through Friday. Here’s an update on expected storm conditions through Friday.

 cover southwest Minnesota and have been extended eastward to include the I-35 corridor in southern Minnesota. 

 include the southern Twin Cities. Winter weather advisories include most of the Twin Cities and much of central Minnesota.

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.

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.

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.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

A winter storm will bring heavy snow and high winds to Minnesota through Friday. 

Storm Update: Sloppy inch so far, heaviest snow tonight into Friday

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