Winter storm watch issued for Tuesday evening into Thursday
Heavy snow and blowing snow will create problems
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Computer models still show a powerful storm delivering two batches of potentially heavy snow to southern and central Minnesota plus portions of Wisconsin this week.
The first batch of snow begins Tuesday morning in western Minnesota and spreads eastward during the afternoon and evening hours.
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 around midday 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.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Many areas will see snowstorm totals of one foot or more before the snow tapers off late Thursday.
Winter storm watches posted
The National Weather Service has issued winter storm watches for much of the southern half of Minnesota plus west-central and southwestern Wisconsin:
The winter storm watch begins 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:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 230 PM CST Sun Feb 19 2023 MNZ041>045-049>053-059>063-068>070-076>078-084-085-093-WIZ014>016- 023>028-200430- /O.NEW.KMPX.WS.A.0003.230222T0000Z-230224T0000Z/ Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stearns-Benton-Sherburne- Isanti-Chisago-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-Carver- Scott-Dakota-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Waseca-Steele-Freeborn-Polk- Barron-Rusk-St. Croix-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Chippewa-Eau Claire- Including the cities of Alexandria, Long Prairie, Little Falls, Princeton, Mora, St Cloud, Sauk Rapids, Elk River, Cambridge, Center City, Monticello, Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater, Chanhassen, Chaska, Victoria, Shakopee, Hastings, Le Sueur, Faribault, Red Wing, Waseca, Owatonna, Albert Lea, Osceola, Rice Lake, Ladysmith, Hudson, River Falls, Menomonie, Durand, Chippewa Falls, and Eau Claire 230 PM CST Sun Feb 19 2023 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of greater than 12 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph and lead to areas of blowing snow, blizzard conditions possible. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, south central, southeast and west central Minnesota and northwest and west central Wisconsin. * WHEN...From Tuesday evening through Thursday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commutes. The cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...There will be two main waves of this event. The first Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning will see totals of 4 to 8 inches of snow. There will be a lull before snow picks up again Wednesday evening where an additional 8 or more inches of snow could fall. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
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:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 250 PM CST Sun Feb 19 2023 MNZ071-072-080-081-097-SDZ039-040-200600- /O.NEW.KFSD.WS.A.0003.230221T1800Z-230223T1800Z/ Lincoln-Lyon-Murray-Cottonwood-Pipestone-Kingsbury-Brookings- 250 PM CST Sun Feb 19 2023 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions possible. Total snow accumulations of 14 to 20 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph. * WHERE...Portions of southwest Minnesota and east central South Dakota. * WHEN...From Tuesday afternoon through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. Strong winds could cause tree damage. The cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... The greatest risk for blizzard conditions will be early Wednesday through early Thursday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Prepare for possible blizzard conditions. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
Here are watch details for southeastern Minnesota:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service La Crosse WI 214 PM CST Sun Feb 19 2023 ...Winter Storm To Bring Snow Tuesday Night... .A band of snow is expected to develop eastward out of southern and central Minnesota Tuesday afternoon, spreading into western Wisconsin that evening. Snow continues through the overnight, diminishing Wednesday morning. Several inches of snow will be possible with the potential for locally higher amounts. This will be round 1 of a complex winter storm system. Wind on Wednesday could blow around some of the freshly fallen snow. Come Wednesday night snow returns in the north with a wintry mix more likely across the south. This transitions to all snow on Thursday. Several more inches of snow are expected with the potential for some icing for parts of northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin. Winds will continue to blow, pushing some of that snow around. This looks to be a HIGHLY impactful winter storm with many facets. Travel could be severely impacted at times. With some adjustments in the storm track possible, along with uncertainties in where the heavier snow bands and favored wintry mix areas lie, expect refinements to the forecast over the next few days. MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-053-201015- /O.NEW.KARX.WS.A.0004.230222T0000Z-230222T1200Z/ Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-Mower-Fillmore-Houston-Taylor-Clark- Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-Vernon- Including the cities of Wabasha, Dodge Center, Rochester, Winona, Austin, Preston, Caledonia, Medford, Neillsville, Alma, Arcadia, Whitehall, Black River Falls, La Crosse, Sparta, Tomah, Mauston, Friendship, and Viroqua 214 PM CST Sun Feb 19 2023 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 7 inches. * WHERE...Portions of southeast Minnesota and central, north central, southwest and west central Wisconsin. * WHEN...From Tuesday evening through late Tuesday night. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday morning commute. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
Monday snow north
Winter weather advisories run Sunday night through Monday in northern Minnesota, where several inches of snow are expected:
.
You can find updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the Minnesota Public Radio News network, and on the MPR News live weather blog.
Programming note
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.
