Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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The buzz is all about the winter storm that’ll bring heavy snow and strong winds to much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon into Thursday, but I’ll first detail the snow that’ll hit northern Minnesota on Monday.

A low pressure system will bring a shot of snow to roughly the northern half of Minnesota and northern Wisconsin late Sunday night and Monday. Several inches of snow are expected in roughly the northern third of Minnesota, plus parts of northwestern Wisconsin.

Here are forecast snow totals in northwestern Minnesota:

Here are forecast snow totals in northeastern Minnesota:

Lighter snow amounts are expected in central Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin. Parts of the Twin Cities metro area could see light snow at times on Monday, with a rain/snow mix possible in the afternoon.  Any snow accumulation in the metro area would tend to be very light…less than one-half of an inch.

Winter weather advisories for snow and blowing snow begin Sunday evening in northwestern Minnesota and then continue through Monday and into Monday evening:

Here are details of the winter weather advisory in northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota:

The winter weather advisory starts at 9 p.m. from Detroit Lakes through Bemidji.

A winter weather advisory starts at midnight Sunday night in north-central and northeastern Minnesota and then continues through Monday and into Monday evening:

Here are details of the advisory in northeastern Minnesota:

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

A major snowstorm will bring periods of heavy snow plus strong winds to much of southern and central Minnesota plus western Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday and Thursday.

The snow begins in western Minnesota Tuesday morning, then spreads eastward Tuesday afternoon/evening. Heavy snow is possible in many areas Tuesday evening into early Wednesday, then the snow may lighten up for a few hours before heavier snow returns late Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday evening/night.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale (NAM) forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern from 6 a.m. Tuesday through Wednesday evening:

Notice the break in the snow coverage by mid morning on Wednesday, then the second wave of significant snow begins later Wednesday afternoon. That second batch of heavier snow will continue overnight Wednesday night and linger into Thursday.

Many areas are likely to see a foot or more of snow from Tuesday afternoon through Thursday:

Some forecast models show snowstorm totals of 16 to 20 inches in several locations.

Winter storm watches have been posted for most of central and southern Minnesota plus western Wisconsin, with various Tuesday start times and end times Thursday afternoon or Thursday evening:

Here are details of the winter storm watch that starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday and runs to 6 p.m. Thursday in the Twin Cities metro area and much of central and south-central Minnesota plus west-central Wisconsin:

The winter storm watch begins at noon on Tuesday and runs until noon Thursday in southwestern and west-central Minnesota. Here are watch details for southwestern Minnesota:

Here are watch details for southeastern Minnesota:

Monday highs will range from 30s in southern and central Minnesota to mainly 20s in the north:

Parts of northwestern Minnesota will have Monday highs in the teens.

The Twin Cities metro area will have Monday highs in the upper 30s. Metro area highs retreat to the lower 20s on Tuesday and Wednesday followed by upper teens Thursday and Friday.

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

Much of southern and central Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin could see a foot or more of snow from Tuesday afternoon into Thursday. We have details on that, plus the Monday batch of snow in northern Minnesota.

More than a foot of snow is possible from Tuesday evening into Thursday

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