MPR News Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner signs off

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One of the worst blizzards in recent memory is raking Minnesota’s North Shore region Wednesday.

More than a foot of snow has fallen already in parts of the region. And winds have gusted over 60 mph along parts of the North Shore Wednesday.

We’ve even had vivid lightning and thunder snow reports with the storm across the Northland.

Heavy snowfall totals are also coming in across much of northern Minnesota. Here are some preliminary National Weather Service snowfall reports so far Wednesday:

It is still snowing heavily in many areas; snowfall totals will go higher. Blizzard warnings continue into Thursday for the North Shore. Here’s the National Weather Service bulletin:

I tweeted Tuesday evening that forecast models were picking up on a trend for more snow around the Twin Cities area Wednesday. That trend has panned out Wednesday.

Bands of snow are wrapping around the low-pressure center across southern Minnesota including the Twin Cities area. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s NAM 3 km model has been among those that wrapped bands of snow across southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities. Here’s the forecast model loop between noon Wednesday and 6 a.m. Thursday:

Overall, it looks like many areas in the south will pick up between 1 and 4 inches of snow through Wednesday night.

A few short-range models lay down a narrow band of up to 6 inches just south of the Twin Cities, so there could be heavier snowfall totals south of the metro area.

Temperatures have hit the freezing mark in many locations so untreated roads and walkways are slick. 

It’s been a minute since we’ve had real wintry weather so take it easy out there, Minnesota!

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

A fierce blizzard is raging along and near the North Shore. Mixed snow and freezing temperatures creating slick conditions on untreated surfaces in the south.

Blizzard conditions along Highway 61 near Grand Marais Wednesday.

North Shore blizzard rages, 19 inches so far; Twin Cities area to see accumulating snow

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