Season's first widespread snow set to fall overnight into Tuesday

As a test run for the upcoming winter, an Alberta clipper weather system is swirling from Canada into Minnesota.

Much of this snowfall will be somewhat convective, so the snowfall will be showery rather than continuous. By late Monday afternoon, snow had been falling across many parts of northern Minnesota.

How much snow?

Snow will continue to work southeastward across Minnesota and then Wisconsin through Monday night, then exit quickly to the southeast Tuesday morning. Predictions are difficult since falling snow will partially melt on some surfaces but stick to other, colder surfaces.

Overall, I think most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin will pick up 1 to 2 inches of snow. Some pockets with repeated showers will see a bit more. Warm ground will melt much of it in southern parts of the state.

Winter weather advisories for up to 5 inches of snow have been issued overnight into Tuesday morning for Beltrami and Lake of the Woods counties in northern Minnesota and parts of northern Wisconsin.

Snow will be light and hit-and-miss in southwestern Minnesota.

The general Twin Cities area should see snowfalls in the 1 to maybe 2-inch range, with more sticking to highway overpasses then the main roadways. Roadways have not been treated since last winter, so anything snow covered will be slippery.

Wind will also be a factor

Winds have been increasing and will be blustery overnight into Tuesday, especially in open areas to the west and south.

Wind advisories have been posted from parts of Monday night until 10 a.m. Tuesday for west-central, southwestern and south-central Minnesota where winds of 20-30 mph are likely to gust to around 45 mph or more at times.

Blowing snow could easily become a visibility problem in some snow showers.

Cold and breezy for Halloween

High temperatures for Tuesday will be much chillier than normal for Halloween. Expect afternoon highs from the mid-20s in the northwest to mid-30s across eastern and southern areas of the state, including the Twin Cities.

Winds will decrease gradually on Tuesday, mainly during the afternoon.

Trick-or-treaters in the Twin Cities should anticipate temperatures right around freezing and falling at trick-or-treat time. Sidewalks could become icy, especially where they have leaf cover to retain the moisture.

Continued chilly all week

Temperatures will continue to run well chillier than average with highs around the state mainly in the 30s but turning a bit milder by Friday.

Saturday might turn out to be the mildest day of the week, but still colder than normal.