Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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Many people aren’t amused to hear about snow in April. There are some flakes in the forecast, but Monday’s mild temps will make the new snow disappear.

In the Twin Cities metro area, we see at least some April snow in 92% of the years. We last saw zero April snow at MSP airport in 2010.

A low pressure system will spread precipitation across portions of Minnesota and western Wisconsin today and this evening. The changeover from rain to a rain/snow mix and then to all snow will happen first in west-central Minnesota and in parts of southwestern Minnesota, then that changeover will spread eastward. 

The Twin Cities metro area will see rain showers at times Sunday afternoon, with a rain/snow mix possible by late afternoon and a changeover to wet snow Sunday evening. An inch or less of snow is forecast for the Twin Cities metro area this evening. 

One to two inches of snow could accumulate in parts of west-central Minnesota Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. One forecast model shows one to two inches of snow Sunday evening just north of the metro area; in Isanti County and Chisago County. That band of one to two inches of evening snow extends toward Amery WI. 

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the Minnesota Public Radio News 

, and you can see updated weather info on the MPR News 

Sunday highs will be in the 40s across most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin, with a few 30s in parts of northeastern Minnesota and west-central Minnesota. Some spots in the Twin Cities will probably reach the mid 40s.  Our average Twin Cities high temp is 50 degrees this time of year.

Monday highs will be mainly in the upper 40s to around 50:

There will be some upper 30s and lower 40s in northeastern Minnesota and a few lower 50s in far southwestern Minnesota and along the Red River Valley in the northwest. We’ll top out around 50 degrees Monday afternoon in the Twin Cities.

Monday wind gusts will be light in most areas, but gusts of 15 to 20 mph are possible Monday afternoon in the Red River Valley:

Forecast gusts are in knots, with 17 knots equal to 19.6 mph.

Back to temperatures, Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to be around 50 Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by lower 40s Thursday and then upper 40s on Friday.

A slow-moving low pressure system will bring periods of rain to Minnesota and western Wisconsin Tuesday and Tuesday night, with snow west and rain to the east on Wednesday. Many areas with Wednesday rain are expected to see a changeover to a rain/snow mix or mainly snow from Wednesday night into Thursday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System (GFS) model shows the potential precipitation pattern from 7 a.m. Tuesday to 7 p.m. Thursday:

There could even be a few thunderstorms Tuesday evening.  Check forecast updates.

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Ron Trenda

Author

Sunday afternoon and evening will feature periods of rain showers and then snowflakes in some areas. We have the details on that, plus a look at the week ahead.

Rain showers arrive Sunday afternoon, then a mix by evening; wet on Tuesday & Wednesday

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