Prompts winter weather advisories as cold air moves in Friday night

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To use a technical weather term, this one looks like a doozy folks.

A powerful April storm brings rain, thunder severe weather, and heavy snow into the north-central U.S. Tuesday. Minnesota will span the range from snow in the northwestern part of the state, to possible severe storms and even tornadoes in the south. It’s a reminder that Minnesota is a tall weather state. 

Let’s start on the cold side of this storm. Heavy snow and blizzard conditions are almost certain across much of North Dakota for the next couple of days. This system looks likely to drop 2 to 3 feet of snow across western North Dakota. Blizzard warnings are up for the western half of North Dakota.

Snowfall will include areas of northwest Minnesota. Snowfall totals could be heavy in the northwest corner of Minnesota. 

 in detail about Tuesday’s severe weather risk for the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota earlier. The most favorable zone for severe storms including possible tornadoes still favors southern Minnesota.  

NOAA’s HRRR (18Z) model run develops storm clusters in southwest Minnesota by around 6 p.m. Tuesday, then a longer line of storms extending into the Twin Cities later Tuesday evening. The loop below runs between 6 p.m. Tuesday and midnight Wednesday. 

Severe weather forecast parameters indicate all modes of severe weather look possible Tuesday evening across southern Minnesota. Damaging wind, large hail, and even tornadoes are possible.

To my eye, the highest tornado risk zone looks similar to our December 15 outbreak. I can’t rule out a stray tornado near the Twin Cities, but the highest risk area favors the I-90 corridor once again northward through about Red Wing. Austin, Albert Lea, Rochester, Owatonna, Northfield and Winona are all in an area that has enough wind shear for possible tornadoes between about 7 and 10 p.m. Tuesday evening. Iowa has some really eye-opening significant tornado risk parameters Tuesday evening.

The Twin Cities NWS Office has a nice little forecast discussion on our Tuesday evening severe threat. Check this out and feed your inner weather geek.  

Much of southern Minnesota could pick up another .50” to 1”+ rainfall Tuesday night. 

Expect severe weather watches Tuesday evening, and possible warnings.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

A powerful spring storm tracks into the Upper Midwest Tuesday.

Historic snow event for western North Dakota

Bismarck NWS Office

Andrew Krueger | MPR News

Storm forecast for northwest MInnesota and eastern North Dakota

Grand Forks NWS Office

NOAA via tropical tidbits

European model (ECMWF) precipitation output

Severe weather potential for southern Minnesota; historic April blizzard in North Dakota

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