Snow fades: Icy roads linger Saturday
Our latest winter storm has delivered a steady powdery snow to the metro and southern Minnesota as advertised.
As of 1am Saturday Glencoe takes the Golden Snowshovel award with 9"!
I will not be surprised to see isolated 10" totals come in this morning south & west of the metro with this prolific powder producer.
1245 AM SNOW GLENCOE 44.77N 94.15W 12/04/2010 M9.0 INCH MCLEOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
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Snow burst continues late Friday night on MNDOT traffic cam at Hwy 41 & 212 in Chaska.
A hefty 6.5" of fresh powder in Deephaven at 11:30pm Friday night.
Radar trends (and model data) shows snow tapering during the overnight hours, but not before another shot of 2" to 4" for many locations from the metro southeast.
NAM model paints another 2-4" by 6am in the metro, with heavier totals in SE MN.
Snow gradually tapering west of the metro late Friday night.
That will bring storm totals into the hefty 4" to 8"+ (with some isolated 10" amounts possible!) range under the heavy snow axis just (and I mean just) south and west of the metro.
The range across the metro looks like from 3" far northeast....to a good 6"+ in the south metro, with some isolated 8" totals possible far SW metro by morning.
Here are some snowfall totals late Friday evening:
(Including a whopping 8" at Litchfield west of the metro!)
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1030 PM CST FRI DEC 03 2010
...INITIAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FROM THE DECEMBER 3RD WINTER STORM...
THE TOTALS BELOW ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION.
SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT
INCHES LOCATION ST COUNTY TIME
------ ----------------------- -- -------------- -------
8.00 LITCHFIELD MN MEEKER 0915 PM
7.30 1 SE NORTHFIELD MN RICE 1000 PM
7.00 RENVILLE MN RENVILLE 0825 PM
7.00 NICOLLET MN NICOLLET 0750 PM
7.00 MANKATO MN BLUE EARTH 0734 PM
6.70 CARVER MN CARVER 0900 PM
6.50 LAKEVILLE MN DAKOTA 0903 PM
6.50 WACONIA MN CARVER 0607 PM
6.50 MORRIS MN STEVENS 0915 PM
6.50 HUTCHINSON MN MCLEOD 0555 PM
6.30 COKATO MN WRIGHT 0848 PM
6.00 KERKHOVEN MN SWIFT 0915 PM
6.00 WASECA MN WASECA 0835 PM
6.00 JANESVILLE MN WASECA 0627 PM
5.80 SHAKOPEE MN SCOTT 0824 PM
5.50 1 ESE CHASKA MN CARVER 0900 PM
5.50 WINTHROP MN SIBLEY 0900 PM
5.50 1 WNW FARIBAULT MN RICE 0822 PM
5.50 WILLMAR MN KANDIYOHI 0557 PM
5.50 MORGAN MN REDWOOD 0339 PM
5.20 ST AUGUSTA MN STEARNS 1010 PM
5.00 RICHFIELD MN HENNEPIN 1014 PM
5.00 2 W PRIOR LAKE MN SCOTT 0600 PM
5.00 NEW ULM MN BROWN 0420 PM
5.00 OLIVIA MN RENVILLE 0252 PM
5.00 REDWOOD FALLS MN REDWOOD 0243 PM
4.80 BLOOMINGTON MN HENNEPIN 0955 PM
4.80 ELLENDALE MN STEELE 0846 PM
4.70 CHANHASSEN MN CARVER 0900 PM
MEASURED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE
4.50 BLUE EARTH MN FARIBAULT 0602 PM
4.50 WATERVILLE MN LE SUEUR 0509 PM
4.30 OWATONNA MN STEELE 0738 PM
4.00 KIMBALL MN STEARNS 0855 PM
4.00 FARMINGTON MN DAKOTA 0814 PM
3.80 MORRISTOWN MN RICE 0557 PM
3.50 RED WING MN GOODHUE 1001 PM
3.50 ST PAUL MN RAMSEY 0835 PM
3.50 WOOD LAKE MN YELLOW MEDICINE 0805 PM
3.10 HASTINGS MN DAKOTA 0905 PM
3.00 ISANTI MN ISANTI 0930 PM
"Deck light doppler" shows the snow coming down.
Use extreme caution if you must travel overnight into early Saturday morning...and ENJOY the fresh wintery landscape if you are able this weekend!
PH
Evening update:
Snowfall update 8pm:
-Mankato 7"
-Northfield 5.8"
-Shakopee 4.5"
-Bloomington 4.2"
-Farmington 4"
-Deephaven 3.5"
Snowfall intensity peaking between now and midnight in most of southern Minnesota, including the metro.
I'm still forecasting a range of 3" to 6" across the metro by 6 am Saturday. The best chance of 6"+ in the southwest metro, Norwood, Waconia, Shakopee, Prior Lake. More likely to see 3" in the northeast metro...Wyoming, Lino Lakes, Scandia, Stillwater.
The heaviest snow band will run between Willmar and Redwood Falls through Hutchinson, Glencoe, New Ulm, Mankato, New Prague, Northfield, Waseca, Owatonna and Rochester. 4" to 8" can be expected in these areas, with some isolated 8"+ totals possible.
The radar is lighting up with brightly colored heavier snow bands moving through the metro and points south this evening. These bands of higher radar "reflectivity" indicate areas of heavier snowfall, with rates approaching (and in some cases exceeding) 1" per hour.
MNDOT traffic cams continue to show snow coming down heavily, and snarling traffic around much of the metro.
Snow burst continues at Highway 212 & Highway 41 in Chaska.
Snow covered and slippery at I-94 & Highway 280 in St. Paul
Visibilities continue to run in the 1/2 mile to 3/4 mile range in moderate snow in much of Minnesota.
Here are some of the latest snowfall totals from the Twin Cities NWS.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
644 PM CST FRI DEC 03 2010
...SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FROM THE DECEMBER 3RD WINTER STORM...
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
------ ----------------------- -- -------------- -------
6.50 HUTCHINSON MN MCLEOD 0555 PM
6.00 JANESVILLE MN WASECA 0627 PM
5.50 WILLMAR MN KANDIYOHI 0557 PM
5.50 MORGAN MN REDWOOD 0339 PM
5.00 MANKATO MN BLUE EARTH 0444 PM
5.00 NEW ULM MN BROWN 0420 PM
5.00 OLIVIA MN RENVILLE 0252 PM
5.00 REDWOOD FALLS MN REDWOOD 0243 PM
4.50 BLUE EARTH MN FARIBAULT 0602 PM
4.50 WATERVILLE MN LE SUEUR 0509 PM
4.50 NICOLLET MN NICOLLET 0431 PM
4.00 LITCHFIELD MN MEEKER 0617 PM
4.00 WACONIA MN CARVER 0607 PM
4.00 ST PETER MN NICOLLET 0330 PM
3.80 MORRISTOWN MN RICE 0557 PM
3.50 WASECA MN WASECA 0622 PM
3.40 2 W PRIOR LAKE MN SCOTT 0600 PM
3.00 OWATONNA MN STEELE 0635 PM
3.00 1 SE NORTHFIELD MN RICE 0456 PM
3.00 ST CLAIR MN BLUE EARTH 0343 PM
3.00 GLENCOE MN MCLEOD 0341 PM
3.00 WINTHROP MN SIBLEY 0338 PM
3.00 DONNELLY MN STEVENS 0259 PM
3.00 SACRED HEART MN RENVILLE 0255 PM
2.50 BLOOMINGTON MN HENNEPIN 0625 PM
2.50 LE SUEUR MN LE SUEUR 0318 PM
2.00 SPRINGFIELD MN BROWN 1203 PM
1.90 CHANHASSEN MN CARVER 0557 PM
TAKEN AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.
1.80 ELLENDALE MN STEELE 0334 PM
1.50 ST CLOUD MN STEARNS 0557 PM
1.50 ST PAUL MN RAMSEY 0509 PM
1.50 ST JAMES MN WATONWAN 1130 AM
1.50 VESTA MN REDWOOD 1107 AM
1.40 MINNEAPOLIS MN HENNEPIN 0557 PM
1.40 RICHFIELD MN HENNEPIN 0535 PM
1.00 FARIBAULT MN RICE 0323 PM
1.00 ALEXANDRIA MN DOUGLAS 0310 PM
1.00 LAMBERTON MN REDWOOD 1124 AM
1.00 GRANITE FALLS MN CHIPPEWA 1110 AM
0.80 WAITE PARK MN STEARNS 0518 PM
0.20 RED WING MN GOODHUE 0337 PM
Look for the snow intensity to gradually taper off after midnight, but lighter snow may continue until the snow ends from west to east by around 6am Saturday.
Winter storm warnings remain in effect until 6am for much of Minnesota.
PH
Update 5:30pm:
Snow intensity now ramping up in the metro. Weather Lab "streetlight snow doppler" confirms reduced visibility and increased snowfall intensity.
MNDOT traffic cam on Highway 212 & 41 in Chaska shows heavy snow burst!
More scientific readings confirm visibilities down to 1/4 to 1/2 mile in moderate to at times heavy snowfall from the SW metro south and west.
LAKEVILLE SNOW 16 14 93 E9 30.07F VSB 1/2 WCI 4
GLENCOE SNOW 16 14 90 E9 30.04S VSB 1/4 WCI 5
MNDOT cam at I-494 & I-35 shows traffic crawling along in south metro.
Latest radar trends continue to show "bright banding" indicating areas of heavy snowfall just SW of the Twin Cities metro. These areas look in line to see some 4" to 8" snowfall totals by early Saturday AM.
[image]
Latest snow totals include around 2" and accumulating rapidly in the SW metro, and 4" in Willmar.
Road conditions will continue to be poor through tonight in much of west central, southern Minnesota and in the Twin Cities Metro. Prepare accordingly!
On the good side, thius is indeed a dry powdery snow, which will make for excellent skiing and outdoor play this weekend.
Enjoy....if you don't have to drive tonight.
PH
Update 4pm:
Doppler radar "Bright Bands" continue to favor areas in the SW & west metro and points south along I-35 to Northfield. Snowfall intensity is picking up as a whole over the metro now...with the heaviest bursts in the south & SW metro.
From Twin Cities NWS...
SNOWFALL REPORTS FROM SPOTTERS...AND VISIBILITIES FROM AIRPORTS...INDICATE RATES WITHIN ONE TO TWO INCHES PER HOUR IN THIS BAND.
[image]
Expect snowfall rates to reach 1" per hour in the southwest metro over the next 1-3 hours.
I'm still forecasting a range of 3" to 6" across the metro by 6 am Saturday. The best chance of 6"+ in the southwest metro, Norwood, Waconia, Shakopee, Prior Lake. More likely to see 3" in the northeast metro...Wyoming, Lino Lakes, Scandia, Stillwater.
The heaviest snow band will run between Willmar and Redwood Falls through Hutchinson, Glencoe, New Ulm, Mankato, New Prague, Northfield, Waseca, Owatonna and Rochester. 4" to 8" can be expected in these areas, with some isolated 8"+ totals possible.
Snow:water ratios are quite high (around 16:1)...meaning a dry powdery snow.
NAM model cranks out 6.2" for MSP Airport.
(Click for more easily readable image)
Here are some of the latest snowfall totals form Twin Cities NWS:
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
343 PM CST FRI DEC 03 2010
...SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FROM THE DECEMBER 3RD WINTER STORM...
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
------ ----------------------- -- -------------- -------
5.50 MORGAN MN REDWOOD 0339 PM
5.00 OLIVIA MN RENVILLE 0252 PM
5.00 REDWOOD FALLS MN REDWOOD 0243 PM
4.00 ST PETER MN NICOLLET 0330 PM
3.00 GLENCOE MN MCLEOD 0341 PM
3.00 WINTHROP MN SIBLEY 0338 PM
3.00 DONNELLY MN STEVENS 0259 PM
3.00 SACRED HEART MN RENVILLE 0255 PM
3.00 MANKATO MN BLUE EARTH 0239 PM
2.50 LE SUEUR MN LE SUEUR 0318 PM
2.00 LITCHFIELD MN MEEKER 0325 PM
2.00 SPRINGFIELD MN BROWN 1203 PM
1.80 ELLENDALE MN STEELE 0334 PM
1.50 ST JAMES MN WATONWAN 1130 AM
1.50 VESTA MN REDWOOD 1107 AM
1.20 MORRISTOWN MN RICE 0213 PM
1.00 FARIBAULT MN RICE 0323 PM
1.00 ALEXANDRIA MN DOUGLAS 0310 PM
1.00 WACONIA MN CARVER 0248 PM
1.00 NEW ULM MN BROWN 1223 PM
1.00 LAMBERTON MN REDWOOD 1124 AM
1.00 GRANITE FALLS MN CHIPPEWA 1110 AM
0.30 ST CLAIR MN BLUE EARTH 1157 AM
0.20 RED WING MN GOODHUE 0337 PM
PH
Update 3:15pm:
Snow intentisty is building now west of the metro and into the SW metro at this hour.
MNDOT traffic cam at I-494 & Hwy 100 shows a worse than usual rush hour.
Radar indicates "bright banding" or areas of higher reflectivity associated with bigger (more reflective) snow flakes (stellar dendrites) from near Glencoe moving into Carver County near Waconia, and spreading into the south metro to New Prague. These bands can yield snowfall rates of 1"+ per hour.
[image]
"Bright Bands" setting up just SW of metro.
Expect snow intensities to increase in the metro over the next 1-2 hours, and a nasty PM rush...expecially in the southwest half of the metro.
Redwood Falls already has plied up 5" of powder...with more 2" and 3" reports coming in my the minute.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
303 PM CST FRI DEC 03 2010
0303 PM SNOW GLENCOE 44.77N 94.15W
12/03/2010 E2.5 INCH MCLEOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0301 PM SNOW HUTCHINSON 44.89N 94.37W
12/03/2010 M2.8 INCH MCLEOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0259 PM SNOW DONNELLY 45.69N 96.01W
12/03/2010 M3.0 INCH STEVENS MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0255 PM SNOW SACRED HEART 44.78N 95.35W
12/03/2010 M3.0 INCH RENVILLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0252 PM SNOW OLIVIA 44.78N 95.00W
12/03/2010 E5.0 INCH RENVILLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0248 PM SNOW WACONIA 44.85N 93.79W
12/03/2010 M1.0 INCH CARVER MN NWS EMPLOYEE
0239 PM SNOW MANKATO 44.17N 93.99W
12/03/2010 M3.0 INCH BLUE EARTH MN BROADCAST MEDIA
SNOWING FOR TWO HOURS THUS FAR.
0243 PM SNOW REDWOOD FALLS 44.54N 95.11W
12/03/2010 M5.0 INCH REDWOOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
PH
Update 2:55pm:
Impressive snow totals now coming in!
0243 PM SNOW REDWOOD FALLS 44.54N 95.11W
12/03/2010 M5.0 INCH REDWOOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0239 PM SNOW MANKATO 44.17N 93.99W
12/03/2010 M3.0 INCH BLUE EARTH MN BROADCAST MEDIA
Doppler update 2:09pm:
Snow is increasing and has overspread the metro. Roads are getting slicker by the hour this afternoon.
MSP NEXRAD shows snow increasing. Heaviest band from Willmar-Hutch-Glencoe-Le Sueur at 2pm.
(Click to enlarge)
Visibilities droppong to 1/2 mile in moderte snow now in SW metro and points west.
EDEN PRAIRIE SNOW 18 13 80 E12 30.10F VSB 1/2 WCI 5
GRANITE FALLS SNOW 18 15 88 E13 30.01F VSB 1/2 WCI 5
NEW ULM SNOW 18 16 93 E9 30.03F VSB 1/2 WCI 6
PH
Here we go!
Our next Minnesota winter storm is getting cranked up this afternoon and tonight.
An impressive band of snow has developed on schedule and is moving east into the metro this afternoon. It looks like the snow will be here beofre PM rush in much of the metro, and there may be enough light snow to slick up roads for Friday PM rush today. Plan for a little extra time getting around this afternoon... and especially this evening.
MNDOT traffic cam shows snow and slick roads already along Highway 212 & Powers Blvd. in Chaska in SW metro.
Roads are already slick west of the metro including Redwood Falls, New Ulm, Mankato, Hutchinson, Glencoe, Fairfax, Willmar.
Here's the latest on the increasing winter storm.
Snow shield:
Snow is increasing in basically south of I-94 to the Minnesota River Valley. Already some snow reports coming in including:
0132 PM SNOW HUTCHINSON 44.89N 94.37W
12/03/2010 E1.0 INCH MCLEOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
1256 PM SNOW MANKATO 44.17N 93.99W
12/03/2010 M1.0 INCH BLUE EARTH MN BROADCAST MEDIA
VISIBILITES COMMING DOWN SNOW INTENSITY BE3COMING
MODERATE
1223 PM SNOW NEW ULM 44.31N 94.46W
12/03/2010 E1.0 INCH BROWN MN TRAINED SPOTTER
1137 AM SNOW REDWOOD FALLS 44.54N 95.11W
12/03/2010 E2.0 INCH REDWOOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
1130 AM SNOW ST JAMES 43.98N 94.63W
12/03/2010 M1.5 INCH WATONWAN MN TRAINED SPOTTER
Snow is blossoming on radar as it moves into the metro. Light snow began at 1:20pm at the Huttner Weather Lab near the east end of Lake Minnetonka, and will spread over the metro by 3pm.
[image]
Metro radar shows snow shield expanding east.
As I suggested may happen yesterday, the latest model runs have shifted the snow slightly to the south. I'm going to trim an inch off my metro forecast from yesterday, thinking 3" to 6" by Saturday AM as a range in the metro. Highest totals will likely be in the southwest metro...think Waconia, Chaska, Norwood.
Models favoring snow totals between 4" and 6" for MSP Airport by Saturday AM.
(Click for bigger image)
It still looks like the heaviest band of 4" to 8" will set up along the Minnesota River and north. Willmar-Mankato-Waseca-Owatonna-Rochester.
NAM model paints heaviest snow band just SW of metro.
Bottom line: The storm is still on track. Expect snow to increase this afternoon and evening. Prepare for slick roads through tonight and into Saturday morning.
PH