Forecast: White Thanksgiving?

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Twin Cities NWS graphical forecast hinting at snow Monday evening.

The weather maps are brewing up changes for Thanksgiving week.

A developing low pressure system is looking more likely Monday in eastern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Forecast models are hinting at the developing the upper low pretty much right overhead Monday. This system could have enough cold air and moisture in place for snow late Monday into Tuesday.

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NOAA GFS 500 millibar(18,000 feet) chart develops upper low Monday.

It's way too early to say for sure how much snow or exactly where it might fall. Systems this far out are just too loosely organized to pin down. In fact, forecasting snow timing, locations and amounts is difficult under the best of circumstances even 24 hours before a storm. Suffice to say the chances for (a few inches of?) snow Monday are increasing.

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GFS model paints precip over the area at 6pm Monday.

The first system may be followed by another Alberta Clipper type system Wednesday. A reinforcing shot of sub-freezing cold air could arrive just in time for Thanksgiving, making it likely that any snow that does fall could stick around for a white coating on Turkey Day.

The obvious consideration here is that this could affect holiday travel in the region. Right now travel looks like it could be affected anywhere between the eastern half of Minnesota and Madison Monday into early Tuesday. The second system could affect road conditions anywhere between Fargo and Chicago Wednesday.

Stay tuned.

PH