Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

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Winter is making up for lost time across the Midwest this week. NOAA’s NAM 3 km model shows Tuesday’s storm spinning toward Chicago. The loop below runs between 2 p.m. Tuesday and midnight Wednesday.

A southern storm track is producing two major storm systems that will dump heavy snow south of Minnesota. The southern storm track may dump 1 to 2 feet of snow from southern Iowa through the Chicago area through the upcoming weekend. 

Tuesday’s system has dumped nearly a foot of snow in far southwest Minnesota, with several inches in most of southwest Minnesota.

The Twin Cities rode the northern edge of Tuesday’s system. We’ve seen just a snowy dusting across most of the Twin Cities area. MSP Airport picked up just a half-inch of snow Tuesday. Around an inch fell in the western suburbs with more just west of the Twin Cities. 

 are up from far southeast Minnesota through eastern Iowa into southern Wisconsin, the northwest suburbs of Chicago, into Michigan.

Many locations in the warning zone will pick up double-digit snowfall by late Tuesday night.

Our next snow chances for Minnesota arrive Wednesday and Friday. 

A minor Clipper system slides across Minnesota Wednesday into Thursday. NOAA’s NAM 3 km model shows light snow across most of Minnesota Wednesday into Thursday. The loop below runs between 6 am Wednesday and midnight Thursday.

A second major storm system winds up Friday and takes the southern track once again. This system is likely to drop more heavy snowfall in places like southern Iowa and Chicago.

Most forecast models suggest the Twin Cities will once again see just a light dusting if anything Friday. But the European model keeps the snow shield a little further north including the Twin Cities area Friday. 

Now that we have at least some snow cover across Minnesota, temperatures will be more likely to reach subzero levels when the next cold fronts arrive this upcoming weekend. 

Low temperatures this weekend will dip below zero across most of Minnesota.

Daytime highs will barely peek above zero in southern Minnesota this weekend. 

Get ready for some real winter weather over the next week.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

An active winter storm track will graze Minnesota this week.

Major winter storm grazes Minnesota; more snow chances ahead

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