Winter storm watches for most of northern Minnesota
60 mph winds, potentially heavy snow north; rain to light snow, flurries in Twin Cities
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I hope you enjoyed our brief but lovely Tuesday thaw. Wintry weather makes a blustery comeback Wednesday into Thursday.
Another potent clipper will race across northern Minnesota Wednesday into Thursday. It will be warm enough for rain in the south Wednesday night but mostly snow in the north.
The Twin Cities and southern Minnesota will see windy conditions with falling temperatures and light snow on the system’s backside.
Winter storm watches will very likely be upgraded into warnings by Wednesday morning for the following evening across much of northern Minnesota. Blizzard conditions are possible in the northern Red River Valley into northwestern Minnesota.
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Here’s a quick look at the National Weather Service storm verbiage across northwestern Minnesota:
Including the cities of Fargo, Grand Forks, Mayville, Hillsboro, Hallock, Cooperstown, Halstad, Michigan, Finley, New Rockford, Crookston, Ada, Cavalier, Devils Lake, Drayton, Breckenridge, Gwinner, Lisbon, Grafton, East Grand Forks, Valley City, Wahpeton, Cando, Langdon, Forman, Warren, Lankin, Leeds and Moorhead
2:06 p.m. CST Tue Dec 16 2025 ... WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...
* WHAT … Blizzard conditions possible. Highest chances for widespread whiteout conditions are along and north of Highway 200. There is a medium chance for blizzard conditions south of Highway 200. Total snow accumulations up to two inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph.
* WHERE ... Portions of northwest and west central Minnesota and northeast and southeast North Dakota.
* WHEN ... From late Wednesday night through Thursday afternoon.
* IMPACTS ... Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow.
And here’s the view for northeastern Minnesota:
Including the cities of International Falls and Ely
2:05 p.m. CST Tue Dec. 16 2025
...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...
* WHAT ... Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 3 and 8 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph.
* WHERE ... Koochiching and North St. Louis Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Bois Forte Band, Nett Lake area. Other locations including Voyageurs National Park. This also includes the Boundary Waters western area.
* WHEN ... From late Wednesday night through Thursday evening.
* IMPACTS ... Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow. Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning and evening commutes.
Wintry temperatures through the weekend
Our inbound air mass behind the storm will be wintry but not as cold as last weekend. Lows will dip below zero by Friday morning.
And highs this weekend will run in the teens north to 20s to around 30 south.
The early read on Christmas week suggests another minor thaw possible in the south. Right now, forecast models don’t show any big storms on the maps for next week. Yet.
Stay tuned.
