Winter storm warnings in northern Minnesota

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Here comes Minnesota’s next winter storm.

A potent Alberta clipper-type system is still on track to dump heavy snowfall across western and southwestern Minnesota Friday. Snowfall totals could exceed a foot under the heaviest snow bands in parts of southwestern Minnesota. 

The Twin Cities will ride the eastern edge of the snow zone. This means a snowfall gradient that will produce the heaviest snows in the southwestern Twin Cities area, with generally lighter totals in the northeastern metro. 

Let’s break down the inbound storm system and what we can expect Friday. 

The system will push snow into western Minnesota starting after midnight. Snowfall will spread southeast across Minnesota overnight, likely reaching the Twin Cities between about 6 to 9 a.m. Friday. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s latest midday (18Z) High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model shows the snow zone spreading southeast between 3 a.m. and noon Friday. 

The heaviest snowfall rates (around 1 inch per hour) will blanket southwestern Minnesota Friday. 

Thursday’s morning and midday forecast model runs continue to lay the heaviest snow zone out across western and southwestern Minnesota. A zone of 6 to 12 inches still looks likely mainly southwest of the Minnesota River. 

This will be more of a glancing blow for the Twin Cities. 

It appears to me drier air to the northeast will limit snowfall in the northeast sections of the Twin Cities, where an inch or less may fall. Most of the Twin Cities will likely end up between 1 and 3 inches of snow, with the best chance for 4 inches in the southwestern areas of the Twin Cities.  

NOAA’s North American Mesoscale Forecast System 3 km model paints what looks like a reasonable blend of forecast model snowfall totals for Friday. 

The worst travel conditions will occur in western and southwestern Minnesota Friday. 

 are in effect from midnight Thursday through midnight Saturday.

Here’s a look at the most likely snowfall timing around Minnesota. 

Light snow likely arrives in the Twin Cities during morning rush hours and continues most of the day. The worst travel for the Twin Cities will likely be from midday through the afternoon rush hours. 

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Our next snowmaker drops the heaviest snowfall on western and southwestern Minnesota Friday. 

Snowy Friday: 8-12 inches in western Minnesota; 1-4 inches across Twin Cities

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