Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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The severe blizzard raked western and central Minnesota for several hours Friday. 

This video reportedly along Minnesota Highway 371 near Brainerd and Nisswa shows more than a dozen crashed and abandoned cars Friday.

Numerous roads were closed across western and central Minnesota.

Wind gusts hit 60 mph at several locations Friday. Most locations had gusts over 50 mph. 

We can be thankful for a quieter weather pattern this weekend across Minnesota. Saturday brings sunshine and lighter winds. Highs will range from the teens east to 30s west. 

Sunday brings another one-day thaw to Minnesota. Highs will reach the 40s in southern Minnesota and possibly even 50 degrees in southwestern Minnesota Sunday afternoon. 

It's amazing how close unseasonably warm air has been the last few weeks. Highs will be in the 60s again as close as Omaha, Neb., and Sioux City, Iowa.

Models from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System are cranking out 44 degrees for the Twin Cities Sunday afternoon. 

A two-piece storm system appears ready to deliver significant snowfall to central and southern Minnesota early next week. The heaviest snow bands currently lay out from western Minnesota eastward to in or near the greater Twin Cities area. 

NOAA’s GFS model shows snowfall into the Twin Cities already before rush hours Monday morning. The snow may continue in spurts through Tuesday. 

We’re still about 48 to 60 hours out from snowfall across Minnesota. That’s too early to be confident about posting forecast model snowfall output, which will change over the weekend. But I think the chances are growing of double-digit snowfall totals for some parts of central and southern Minnesota, and possibly the Twin Cities by late Tuesday. 

Stay tuned for updates over the weekend. 

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

A severe blizzard raked western and central Minnesota. Wind gusts over 60 mph at several locations. 

Blizzard eases; significant snow likely Monday and Tuesday

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