Sunday snowmelt. Major storm Tuesday-Wednesday.
Snow has been melting just about statewide on Sunday, courtesy of above-freezing temperatures and patchy sunshine. The Twin Cities had an afternoon high temperature of 51, for the first 50-degree reading since November 26. Southeastern Minnesota warmed into the low 60s including Winona and Austin.
Cooler Monday
A weak cold front will bring cooler temperatures to Minnesota for Monday. Highs should range from the upper 20s in the northwest corner of the state to the upper 40s in the southeast. The Twin Cities should see a high in the mid 40s to continue the snowmelt.
Major storm system Tuesday-Wednesday
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A complex, slow-moving storm system will arrive in Minnesota on Tuesday. This will be a high-impact spring storm with a high moisture content. Rain, snow and freezing rain are all on the agenda. How much of each you might get will depend on the exact storm track.
As of this Sunday evening, the big picture is of a widespread winter storm watch for northern, west central and into central Minnesota from Tuesday through Wednesday night. Warnings and advisories will be issued on Monday.
Tuesday arrival
A wintry mix of rain, snow and freezing rain will arrive in Minnesota from the southwest Tuesday morning. By Tuesday afternoon the precipitation pattern should settle down to mainly snow across northern Minnesota, rain in the south, and freezing rain in the transition zone between the rain and snow areas. The freezing rain seems most likely to be in a west-to-east band across central Minnesota.
Cold air will wrap counterclockwise around the storm to the south and then east to change the rain over to snow during Tuesday night and Wednesday
How much snow
This storm will hang around long enough to drop dangerous amounts of snow. Areas of northwestern Minnesota and into North Dakota have a high likelihood of picking up a foot or more of snow.
Blizzard conditions likely
The storm will deepen over Minnesota. As the pressure gradient tightens, the winds will become quite strong. Falling and blowing snow will lead to extremely limited visibilities in open areas, especially across western Minnesota where blizzard conditions will be most likely.
The combination of heavy snow and high winds is likely to cause the highest storm impacts to be in northwestern and west central Minnesota along with parts of the Dakotas.
Twin Cities’ outlook
The Twin Cities area should see the arrival of mixed precipitation Tuesday morning. Then rain and maybe thunderstorms for Tuesday afternoon and night. Rain should change to snow during Wednesday and end Wednesday night. Mild accumulations are likely, but nothing like what will fall to the north and west.
Another severe outbreak?
Severe storms are quite possible in the middle of the country again on Tuesday as that same storm system shoots an energized cold front southward. The Storm Prediction Center has given early indications of where the dangerous weather might erupt and track.
Mild Easter weekend
Looking ahead, our weather will turn colder for a day on Thursday behind our departing spring storm. Then we should warm nicely for Easter weekend.
