Cooler but still well above normal this week

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heavy snowfall for parts of the North Shore.

 Winter storm warnings continue there into Thursday. Now southern Minnesota is the place with heavy snow potential by Friday.

Wednesday afternoon’s forecast models have made a distinct northward shift in Friday’s major storm center that will track south of Minnesota. The latest forecast model trends suggest significant snow could move as far north as the Twin Cities on Friday.

 was posted Wednesday afternoon includes most of southeast Minnesota. It currently comes as close to the Twin Cities as Red Wing as of Wednesday early evening.

If current forecast model trends hold the watch zone could be expanded closer to or into the Twin Cities area on Wednesday night or Thursday. 

Friday’s inbound storm is the second major low-pressure system to cross the Midwest this week. The first system dumped up to 15 inches of snow in eastern Iowa. This system has the potential to drop more than a foot of fresh snow in parts of Iowa, Wisconsin and the Chicagoland area. 

NOAA’s afternoon (18Z) NAM 3 km forecast model run shows the northward shift and likely bigger snow zone across Minnesota. You can see the loop at the top of this post, but here’s another look. Note the heaviest snowfall bands (darker) across Iowa and southeast Minnesota.

Forecast models are cranking out some impressive snowfall totals across Iowa through Chicago into Michigan. Check out this GFS Kuchera output. It cranks out a foot of snow from parts of Iowa through Chicago into Michigan. The GFS suggests around 4 to 5 inches for the Twin Cities area.

Now look at NOAA’s NAM model. It pushes heavier snowfall up to a foot northward into parts of southern Minnesota. It cranks out an impressive 8 to 9 inches for the Twin Cities.

It’s still too early for high confidence about eventual snowfall totals, especially in the Twin Cities near the northern part of the system.

But it’s beginning to look like very plowable, wind-driven snow is more likely late Thursday night through Friday. 

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Heavy snow chances increase for the Twin Cities and southeast Minnesota Friday. 

Friday snow trending north; potentially plowable for Twin Cities

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