Winter storm warnings in northern Minnesota

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Snow has been really picking up over late morning and midday. Temperatures aloft have been cooling, transitioning our snowflakes from needles to dendrites (bigger, fluffy flakes), allowing the rate and ratio (of snow to water) now to pick up. 

From around the state

Most Twin Cities totals so far range from 1 to 4 inches through about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. We can expect another 2 to 3 inches with most of that falling before 3 p.m. That will give most of the Twin Cities metro anywhere from 3 to as much as 7 inches in total. Snow will lighten and then end this evening. 

Parts of central Minnesota saw 6 to 13 inches of snow Monday with amounts in excess of a foot and a half along parts of the shores of Lake Superior. 

Lake enhanced snowfall has made for totals in excess of 18 inches in the Duluth area and along parts of the south shore of Superior.

The same areas that got dumped on Monday will see an additional 3 to 6 inches Tuesday (with 8 to 12 more near Lake Superior, making for 2 feet two-day totals). A few places within central Minnesota will see two day totals of almost 18 inches.

Snow will be heaviest for the Twin Cities midday into the early afternoon. We should see the snow lighten up through the afternoon and taper off this evening.

The wind will cause fine, light snow to blow and drift. Keep in mind, salt and road chemicals will not work as efficiently in the cold temperatures either. 

Once again, blizzard warnings are posted through 6 p.m. Tuesday for parts of western and northwestern Minnesota. 

There will be quite the temperature gradient across Minnesota Tuesday with highs in the low 20s in southeastern Minnesota, while northwest Minnesota stays subzero.

Overnight Tuesday night into early Wednesday will be cold with most places dropping below zero and still some wind present.

In fact, wind chill values will be well below zero with parts of western and northwestern Minnesota experiencing near 30 below wind chills early Wednesday morning. 

Highs Wednesday will again be chilly and nearly 20 degrees colder than normal, mainly in the teens and single digits.

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Sven Sundgaard

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We are in the thick of the heaviest snow in the Twin Cities midday Tuesday. We’ve seen anywhere from 1 to 4 inches so far with another 2 to 3 on the way before snow slowly tapers Tuesday afternoon. Strong northwest winds are causing blowing and drifting of snow.

Parts of central Minnesota saw 6 to 13 inches of snow Monday with amounts in excess of a foot and a half along parts of the shores of Lake Superior. They will see an additional 6 to 12 inches Tuesday. Farther south, we can expect 4 to 6 inches in the Twin Cities and through much of central Minnesota into western Wisconsin. Far southern Minnesota may see only 1 to 3 inches.

Second winter storm brings widespread snow and wind Tuesday

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