Winter storm will deliver heavy snow and strong winds Sunday into Monday

Saturday will be a quiet weather day in most of Minnesota and western Wisconsin, with highs mainly in the 30s. Far northern Minnesota will see some 20s.

Patchy light snow is possible in southern Minnesota late Saturday afternoon, with the light snow spreading northward Saturday evening.

Snow coverage expands to include much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin later Saturday night. The snow then continues Sunday and Sunday evening, with heavy snow at times. The heaviest snow in the Twin Cities metro area expected to be Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening.

Much of Minnesota will have snow Sunday night and Monday. The Twin Cities metro area, south-central and southeastern Minnesota plus parts of west-central Wisconsin could see snow continue into Sunday evening, then a rain/snow mix or mainly rain late Sunday night, followed by mainly rain on Monday. Periods of snow plus strong winds continue in much of western and northern Minnesota on Tuesday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern from 2 p.m. Saturday to 7 p.m. Sunday:

How much snow?

Much of Minnesota could see double-digit snow totals Sunday into Monday and Tuesday. Snow totals will be lower in areas that see a transition to rain or a mix on Monday.

Here are forecast snow totals:

Northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin will also see some double-digit snow totals:

Watches and warnings

A blizzard warning covers much of the North Shore from 1 p.m. Sunday to 7 p.m. Tuesday, with winter storm warnings from 10 a.m. Sunday to 7 p.m. Tuesday from Brainerd and Hinckley to Duluth:

The winter storm warning in International Falls and Hibbing runs from 1 p.m. Sunday to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Here are details of the blizzard warning along the North Shore:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Duluth MN 335 AM CDT Sat Mar 23 2024 MNZ020-021-232045- /O.UPG.KDLH.WS.A.0004.240324T1800Z-240326T1200Z/ /O.NEW.KDLH.BZ.W.0002.240324T1800Z-240327T0000Z/ Southern Lake-Southern Cook- Including the cities of Two Harbors, Silver Bay, and Grand Marais 335 AM CDT Sat Mar 23 2024 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM SUNDAY TO 7 PM CDT TUESDAY... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations of 14 to 19 inches and ice accumulations of around two tenths of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph. * WHERE...Southern Lake and Southern Cook Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Grand Portage Reservation. * WHEN...From 1 PM Sunday to 7 PM CDT Tuesday. * 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 commute. Strong winds could cause extensive damage to trees and power lines. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Blizzard conditions are most likely from Sunday night through Monday afternoon. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin.

Details of the winter storm warning:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Duluth MN 335 AM CDT Sat Mar 23 2024 MNZ025-033>038-232045- /O.UPG.KDLH.WS.A.0004.240324T1200Z-240326T1200Z/ /O.NEW.KDLH.WS.W.0004.240324T1500Z-240327T0000Z/ North Cass-South Cass-Crow Wing-Northern Aitkin-South Aitkin- Carlton and South St. Louis-Pine- Including the cities of Walker, Pine River, Brainerd, Hill City, Aitkin, Duluth, Pine City, and Hinckley 335 AM CDT Sat Mar 23 2024 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM SUNDAY TO 7 PM CDT TUESDAY... * WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of 12 to 16 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...North Cass, South Cass, Crow Wing, Northern Aitkin, South Aitkin, Carlton and South St. Louis and Pine Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Fond du Lac Band and the Mille Lacs Band, Big Sandy Lake, East Lake, Lena Lake and, Hinckley areas. * WHEN...From 10 AM Sunday to 7 PM CDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Blizzard conditions may develop Monday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin.

Northwestern Wisconsin is in a winter storm watch that begins on Sunday.

A winter storm warning also begins Sunday in much of central Minnesota and a portion of west-central Minnesota:

Here are details of the winter storm warning that includes Alexandria, St. Cloud and Willmar:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 336 AM CDT Sat Mar 23 2024 ...WINTER STORM ARRIVES SUNDAY BRINGING HEAVY WET SNOW AND STRONG WIND... .Light snow will develop Saturday night, but the main storm system will arrive on Sunday. A heavy band of snow will develop across northern Iowa Sunday morning, and lift up from the south. Snowfall rates of 1 inch per hour are likely, with 2 inches per hour possible. Winds will be out of the east at 25 to 35 mph, which will lead to very low visibility. Snow will become more widespread throughout the day on Sunday. Winter Storm Watches and Warnings are in effect during this time. On Sunday night, warmer air will cause snow to change over to rain across southern Minnesota, and this warm air will expand on Monday. Areas in eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin could also change over to rain. Areas in western Minnesota will likely remain all snow. There is uncertainty on where the rain, snow line will set up. On Monday night and Tuesday, colder air will move in causing a change over back to snow across much of the region. A couple more inches of accumulation is possible, but the main concern is for strong northwest winds of 30 to 40 mph to cause blowing snow across western Minnesota. The system will exit on Tuesday. MNZ041>045-047>050-054>058-231645- /O.UPG.KMPX.WS.A.0002.240324T1200Z-240326T1200Z/ /O.NEW.KMPX.WS.W.0005.240324T1500Z-240326T1200Z/ Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns- Benton-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-Meeker- Including the cities of Alexandria, Long Prairie, Little Falls, Princeton, Mora, Morris, Glenwood, St Cloud, Sauk Rapids, Madison, Benson, Montevideo, Willmar, and Litchfield 336 AM CDT Sat Mar 23 2024 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM SUNDAY TO 7 AM CDT TUESDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 10 to 14 inches. Winds gusting 30 to 40 mph. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central and west central Minnesota. * WHEN...From 10 AM Sunday to 7 AM CDT Tuesday. The heaviest snow will be Sunday afternoon and evening. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. High snowfall rates and patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This will be a heavy wet snow. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

The blue shaded area that includes the Twin Cities is in a winter storm watch from 10 a.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Monday:

MNZ051>053-059>063-066>070-074>077-082>084-WIZ014>016-023-231645- /O.EXT.KMPX.WS.A.0002.240324T1500Z-240325T1500Z/ Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington- McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice- Watonwan-Blue Earth-Waseca-Polk-Barron-Rusk-St. Croix- Including the cities of Elk River, Cambridge, Center City, Monticello, Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater, Hutchinson, Gaylord, Chanhassen, Chaska, Victoria, Shakopee, Hastings, New Ulm, St Peter, Le Sueur, Faribault, St James, Mankato, Waseca, Osceola, Rice Lake, Ladysmith, and Hudson 336 AM CDT Sat Mar 23 2024 ...WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central and south central Minnesota and northwest and west central Wisconsin, including the Twin Cities metro. * WHEN...From Sunday morning through Monday morning. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. High snowfall rates and patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This will be a heavy wet snow. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the MPR News network. 

Updated forecast information will be posted by the National Weather Service offices in the Twin Cities, Duluth, La Crosse, Wis., Sioux Falls, S.D. and Grand Forks, N.D.

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. each Saturday and Sunday.  We will have extra weather updates this weekend.