West Metro: Snow totals approach 1 foot! 2″ to 4″ more likely

The west metro is in the heavy snow "bull's eye" for this storm.

Snow totals are approaching 1 foot now in the west metro. Here are some totals.

Eden Prairie 11"

New Hope 10.1"

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Deephaven 10"

Amboy 10"

Forest Lake 10"

Minneapolis (NW side) 9"

Edina 9"

Prior Lake 9"

Bloomington 7.5"

Cambridge 6.5"

St Paul (Highland Park) 7"

A fresh 10" snowfall on the deck at the Huttner weather Lab at noon Saturday.

As expected the heaviest snow totals so far are in the west metro (6"-11"), with lower amounts in the far east metro (3"- 6").

Deck chairs sporting heavy Noevmber snow. Trees snapped under the weight of the snow in Deephaven.

A solid 10" on rainings, fences, trees and everything else.

Radar trends show "pivot point" east of metro:

Twin Cities radar loop this afternoon is showing the pivot point just east of the Twin Cities. This is the center of "spin" or axis around the low...and if it stays east of the metro snow will spin around the west side and keep snow going here. Snow bands will vary in intensity and spin through the metro and eastern Minnesota through tonight.

[image]

Snow intentisty will generally be lighter then the bursts of heavy wet flakes we saw this morning, but a few heavy snow bands may rotate through and drop visibility to around 1/4 to 1/2 mile at times.

Surface low tracks west:

At 1:30pm today the surface low pressure center is between Rochester and La Crosse. This is a little farther west than forecast. This may mix in a little rain in the far east and southest metro and along the St. Criox Valley...think Hudson, Afton, Hastings and Red Wing.

Surface plot shows low center spinning between Rochester and La Crosse.

(click for bigger image)

Temps above freezing:

I can tell you that roads in the west metro are VERY slick today. A mix of slush & compacted ice. Crews are out...but travel is very difficult. One thing working in our favor with this storm is that temperatures are just above freezing in most places.

Warm ground may have melted the first inch or two...but intense snowfall rates overnight overcame any surface melting in a hurry.

With lower snowfall rates and temps above freezing, most areas may see another 2" to 4" overnight.

PH