Blizzard warnings in Northwest Minnesota, winter weather advisories across the state

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It was a fairly typical Saturday in many ways. The high temperature at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was 35 degrees, which is four degrees warmer than our average Dec. 10 high. Most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin had Saturday highs in the 30s. 

Some areas saw patchy light snow and drizzle/light freezing drizzle on Saturday. As expected, snow accumulations were more substantial along and near the North Shore of Lake Superior; afternoon snow reports included 3 inches at Duluth and Silver Bay, with 5 inches just west of Grand Marais. 

Spotty light snow or flurries will be possible Saturday evening and overnight, and some spots could see some occasional drizzle and patchy fog. 

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

Some spots in the Twin Cities metro area will reach the mid-30s. 

Winds will be light in the east on Sunday, but winds in far western Minnesota will be high enough Sunday afternoon to drop wind chill temps into the teens:

Back to high temperatures, Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to be in the mid-30s on Monday, followed by middle to upper 30s Tuesday and Wednesday, lower 30s Thursday and upper 20s on Friday. 

Computer models show a low pressure system becoming more organized over Colorado Monday evening, then tracking northeastward Tuesday and Wednesday. It’ll spread plenty of moist air over the Upper Midwest. In the colder air over western Minnesota and central and northern Minnesota, heavy snow will be possible. There could even be some double-digit snow totals by late Wednesday or early Thursday. 

Here are some early looks at the potential winter storm impacts this coming week, from the National Weather Service forecast offices in the Twin Cities, Duluth and Grand Forks:

The NWS office in Grand Forks has issued a winter storm watch that includes several counties in northwestern Minnesota from late Monday night through Wednesday night:

Additional counties will probably be added to the winter storm watch in coming forecasts.

The Twin Cities metro area, southeastern Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin will be in the milder air to start, so those areas could start with a wintry mix Tuesday afternoon followed by a period of rain, then back to a mix before finally changing to all snow. The storm track and temperature profile will become more certain as we get closer to Tuesday and Wednesday. 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. Saturday and Sunday.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Ron Trenda

Author

We’ll have pesky clouds with us through much of Sunday. Details on that, plus an update on the winter storm that will hit parts of Minnesota and western Wisconsin this coming week.

Seasonal temps on Sunday; Update on the upcoming winter storm

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