Storm Update: Next wave moving in

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Twin Cities NWS graphical forecast highlights widespread 4 inch snow totals in a 6 hour period overnight.

An impressive first wave has dumped snowfall totals of anywhere from 3 to 9 inches of snow in Minnesota. In case you were wondering if the morning lull means the storm is over, it's not. The "best" is yet to come.

This complex storm system is made up of three different upper lows, and they are set to merge tonight. This will intensify snowfall and winter storm conditions in the region tonight.

Here are some of the latest forecast trends:

-With anywhere from 3 to 9 inches of snowfall already on the ground, the forecast models are cranking out another 1.09" of liquid precipitation through early Saturday. This could produce another 10" of snow in many areas.

-As the upper lows "phase" later today and tonight snowfall coverage and intensity will increase. The heaviest snowfall rates should occur between 6pm tonight at 6pm Christmas night. During that time, we could see snowfall rates of up to an inch per hour in some areas.

-The system has enough cold air that it appears precip should be all snow from the metro west. Freezing rain will coninue to mix in east and southeast of the Twin Cities into western Wisconsin.

-The heaviest snow totals by Sunday remain from the Willmar to St. Cloud and toward Duluth. All of these areas, including Duluth and the North Shore have the potential to see 15" to 20+" storm total snowfalls with this storm.

-It still looks as if the best forecast for the Twin Cities is for snowfall amounts ranging between 12" and 18"+. If heavy snow bursts develop tonight, some areas could exceed 20".

Here are some snowfall totals from the storms first wave.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN

1014 AM CST THU DEC 24 2009

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED INTO SNOW...AND ICE AND SLEET

CATEGORIES...THEN BY AMOUNT...AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE FINAL AMOUNT

FOR EACH LOCATION.

SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

INCHES LOCATION ST COUNTY TIME

------ ----------------------- -- -------------- -------

9.40 2 NW CHASKA MN CARVER 0800 AM

8.50 PRIOR LAKE MN SCOTT 0745 AM

8.10 FARIBAULT MN RICE 0829 AM

8.00 WATERVILLE MN LE SUEUR 0936 AM

8.00 NEW MARKET MN SCOTT 0741 AM

7.60 1 SSW JORDAN MN SCOTT 0800 AM

7.50 5 S FARMINGTON MN DAKOTA 0853 AM

7.50 NORTHFIELD MN RICE 0840 AM

7.50 1 SSW LONSDALE MN RICE 0800 AM

7.50 HAMBURG MN CARVER 0800 AM

7.20 ST PAUL MN RAMSEY 0836 AM

7.00 LAKEVILLE MN DAKOTA 0823 AM

6.80 2 S LESTER PRAIRIE MN MCLEOD 0800 AM

6.80 LESTER PRAIRIE MN MCLEOD 0723 AM

6.60 MENOMONIE WI DUNN 0952 AM

6.50 1 WSW DEEPHAVEN MN HENNEPIN 0937 AM

6.50 CIRCLE PINES MN ANOKA 0900 AM

6.50 MANKATO MN BLUE EARTH 0800 AM

6.50 WACONIA MN CARVER 0800 AM

6.50 ST JAMES MN WATONWAN 0700 AM

6.30 4 WSW MINNEAPOLIS MN HENNEPIN 0815 AM

6.30 NEW HOPE MN HENNEPIN 0800 AM

6.30 NEW HOPE MN HENNEPIN 0700 AM

6.20 WOODBURY MN WASHINGTON 0918 AM

6.20 HASTINGS MN DAKOTA 0825 AM

6.20 5 NE FOREST LAKE MN CHISAGO 0800 AM

6.20 CHANHASSEN MN CARVER 0800 AM

6.10 RAMSEY MN ANOKA 0831 AM

6.10 ST PETER MN NICOLLET 0800 AM

6.10 BLOOMINGTON MN HENNEPIN 0704 AM

6.00 EDINA MN HENNEPIN 0918 AM

6.00 COLFAX WI DUNN 0824 AM

6.00 ST PETER MN NICOLLET 0815 AM

6.00 2 NE BUFFALO MN WRIGHT 0800 AM

6.00 1 N ANDOVER MN ANOKA 0800 AM

6.00 2 N CHASKA MN CARVER 0800 AM

6.00 ANDOVER MN ANOKA 0755 AM

6.00 MANKATO MN BLUE EARTH 0749 AM

5.70 GAYLORD MN SIBLEY 0800 AM

5.70 HEWITT MN TODD 0744 AM

5.70 ST PAUL MN RAMSEY 0736 AM

5.50 MEDINA MN HENNEPIN 0944 AM

5.50 5 NW MINNEAPOLIS MN HENNEPIN 0800 AM

5.50 ROBERTS WI ST. CROIX 0800 AM

5.50 WELCOME MN MARTIN 0639 AM

5.40 NORTH ST PAUL MN RAMSEY 0759 AM

5.40 MENOMONIE WI DUNN 0745 AM

5.20 1 E OWATONNA MN STEELE 0758 AM

5.10 2 SSW CAMBRIDGE MN ISANTI 0918 AM

5.00 2 N NORTH BRANCH MN CHISAGO 0905 AM

5.00 RUSH CITY MN CHISAGO 0856 AM

5.00 MORGAN MN REDWOOD 0800 AM

5.00 3 WSW PRINCETON MN SHERBURNE 0800 AM

5.00 HASTINGS L/D 2 MN DAKOTA 0800 AM

5.00 FAIRMONT MN MARTIN 0800 AM

5.00 1 NNW COLD SPRING MN STEARNS 0800 AM

5.00 ZUMBROTA MN GOODHUE 0800 AM

5.00 RED WING MN GOODHUE 0705 AM

5.00 6 NE ANOKA MN ANOKA 0626 AM

4.80 MORA MN KANABEC 0800 AM

4.80 CHASKA MN CARVER 0658 AM

4.60 1 W HUTCHINSON MN MCLEOD 0800 AM

4.50 COKATO MN WRIGHT 0851 AM

4.50 WINNEBAGO MN FARIBAULT 0800 AM

4.30 WILLMAR MN KANDIYOHI 0800 AM

4.20 REDWOOD FALLS MN REDWOOD 0800 AM

4.20 ST CLOUD SCSU MN STEARNS 0800 AM

4.00 ST JOSEPH MN STEARNS 0903 AM

4.00 1 S NORTH BRANCH MN CHISAGO 0831 AM

4.00 DURAND WI PEPIN 0827 AM

4.00 CUMBERLAND WI BARRON 0804

4.00 LITTLE FALLS MN MORRISON 0800 AM

4.00 STILLWATER MN WASHINGTON 0741 AM

-Latest snowfall totals

-Minnesota high resolution radar loop

Good luck, enjoy the snow and stay safe!

PH