Snow fades today, 47 by Friday?

Our Wednesday snow system is behaving about as expected so far. Snow will gradually taper off in the metro today, but linger into this evening in SE MN & Wisconsin.

Twin Cities NWS:

-Latest individual snowfall reports here.

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-Latest snowfall summaries here.

La Crosse NWS: (Wisconsin & southeast Minnesota)

-Latest individual snowfall reports here.

-Latest snowfall summaries here.

Here are some snowfall totals so far as of this morning.

Twin Cities area:

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN

0824 AM SNOW BURNSVILLE 44.76N 93.28W

03/09/2011 M1.7 INCH DAKOTA MN TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 AM SNOW 2 W PRIOR LAKE 44.73N 93.47W

03/09/2011 M1.5 INCH SCOTT MN TRAINED SPOTTER

0755 AM SNOW HAMBURG 44.73N 93.96W

03/09/2011 M1.2 INCH CARVER MN CO-OP OBSERVER

0742 AM SNOW INVER GROVE HEIGHTS 44.83N 93.06W

03/09/2011 M1.4 INCH DAKOTA MN TRAINED SPOTTER

0717 AM SNOW BLOOMINGTON 44.83N 93.32W

03/09/2011 M1.2 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER

As expected, snowfall totals are heavier in southern Minnesota and Wisconsin.

0700 AM SNOW SW ELLENDALE 43.87N 93.30W

03/09/2011 M4.0 INCH STEELE MN TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 AM SNOW FAIRMONT 43.64N 94.46W

03/09/2011 M3.0 INCH MARTIN MN CO-OP OBSERVER

0643 AM SNOW OSAGE 43.29N 92.81W

03/09/2011 M4.0 INCH MITCHELL IA PUBLIC

0711 AM SNOW CALEDONIA 43.63N 91.50W

03/09/2011 M4.0 INCH HOUSTON MN PUBLIC

0711 AM SNOW AUSTIN KAAL TV 43.68N 92.95W

03/09/2011 M3.1 INCH MOWER MN PUBLIC

0700 AM SNOW ROCHESTER AP 2NE 43.93N 92.48W

03/09/2011 M2.6 INCH OLMSTED MN CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM SNOW LA CROSSE WFO 43.82N 91.19W

03/09/2011 M5.2 INCH LA CROSSE WI CO-OP OBSERVER

Radar trends show snow gradually tapering as drier air works in behind the low pressure system as it moves east today. Expect light snow to gradually fade as we head through the afternoon.

-Latest Twin Cities radar loop

Warm up on the way!

The upper air pattern is changing for the milder. Fast moving systems now spinning off the Pacific Ocean will sail though the Upper Midwest over the next week. That means the systems will pull up warmer (did I just actually type the word "warmer?!") air ahead of them as they move in...and cooler air behind.

The first such system is headed this way Friday. Look for a sunny and milder day Thursday as high pressure builds in, then southerly winds will kick in Friday and draw milder air north into Minnesota.

If we get enough sun...and it looks like we will, temperatures could soar into the mid-upper 40s Friday!

Cooler air and some snow may greet us on the system's back side Saturday, but the warm up will really get going next week.

I expect a few days in the 40s and a shot at 50s next week. It looks like we will really start melting some serious snow around here in the next 7 to 10 days.

Get ready for a taste of spring!

PH