Another wintry storm Friday

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Wednesday will be one of the quieter days in an active weather week. More snow targets Minnesota Thursday and Friday.

The state was off to a relatively calm but chilly start Wednesday, with single-digit temperatures for most of Minnesota. 

The one slightly milder spot was north central Minnesota where a disturbance to the north kept in more clouds overnight, keeping a few temperatures in the teens. That same disturbance is also bringing a couple areas of very light snow north.  

Morning winds are mostly light and variable, which has also enabled a couple areas of fog to develop in southern Minnesota that lift through the morning. 

Minnesota gets under the influence of a warm front Wednesday, bringing southerly winds by the afternoon, and that will warm the majority of the state into the 20s for highs. 

This is still about 5 to 10 degrees below average, but it will be milder than Tuesday, and those temperatures will keep rising overnight for much of the state, leading to an even warmer Thursday. 

That warm front will keep more clouds across the state through the day though, limiting sunshine. 

As mentioned, warm air continues to spread across Minnesota Wednesday night, causing Thursday to have a mild start, mostly in the 20s. Afternoon temperatures are likely to be the warmest of the week, with most of Minnesota in the 30s and a few 40s south.

The same system providing the warm air also brings more snow to the state. 

Light snow is likely to develop predominantly in eastern Minnesota early Thursday. For most places, including the Twin Cities, totals are expected to stay around 1 inch or less, and the snow should mostly be in the morning. 

However, the Arrowhead will see lake enhancement that keeps snow lingering into the afternoon and produces higher amounts, especially along the North Shore. 

Southern Cook County is already under a winter weather advisory for Thursday, with 4 or 5 inches of snow possible.

Yet another storm targets Minnesota Friday, with the center of the storm south of the state, but clipping southern Minnesota with heavy snow.

Snow is possible all day Friday for the southern half of the state, particularly in the afternoon and evening for the Twin Cities. Totals will be the highest southeast, lessening as you go north.

For the Twin Cities, it currently looks like one to two inches of snow are likely, with slightly higher totals possible in the south metro area.

As you travel south to cities such as Albert Lea or Rochester, the snow will get heavier fast, with totals over 6 inches in the forecast.

Because of the heavy snow expected southeast, that area has already been put under a winter storm watch beginning Friday afternoon.

The snow clears by early Saturday, then the rest of the weekend turns much quieter. In fact, next week in general appears far less active.

Following the milder day Thursday, Friday’s storm cools temperatures to more seasonable levels for mid-December, with 20s north and lower 30s south Friday and Saturday. 

More of Minnesota nudges back into the 30s by Friday, and overall next week will be mostly above average with more 30s and occasional 40s south.  

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Monday through Friday morning.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Nicole Mitchell 

Author

Wednesday will be one of the quieter days in an active weather week. More snow targets Minnesota Thursday and Friday.


Interstate 494 just east of Highway 52 in Inver Grove Heights

Two more rounds of snow target Minnesota this week

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