Wintry mix changed to heavy snow this afternoon; looking ahead to round two
A mixture of cold rain and snow changed to snow in western and central Minnesota this afternoon with the accumulation of several inches from Alexandria to Brainerd, including a report of 6.5 inches of snow at Millersville in Douglas County, northwest of Alexandria.
Snow will spread northeast the remainder of the afternoon, but is expected to taper from west to northeast this evening. Snowfall totals of 4 to 6 inches are likely from near Grand Rapids to Duluth and Hibbiing.
Heavy rain this afternoon resulted in some flooding problems around Mankato, where a twenty-four hour total rainfall of 1.20 inches was reported.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
From the National Weather Service in Chanhassen at 220 p.m. CST:
STATE PATROL REPORTED THAT A SEGMENT OF THE SOUTHBOUND RIGHT LANE OF HIGHWAY 169 HAS BEEN CLOSED JUST SOUTH OF ST PETER DUE TO A MUD SLIDE.
In the greater Twin Cities Metro area, rainfall amounts have approached a half inch since the rain began late last night.
A cold front was tracking southeast through the state and will usher in cooler air during the overnight hours. The front will stall over northern Iowa on Sunday. Another low pressure will move along the front from Missouri on Sunday.
Heavy snow may develop over southeast Minnesota on Sunday night into Monday.
Source:NOAA/HRRR modelSurface temperatues and wind field in knots at 2 a.m. CDT. Don't forget to set the clocks ahead.
Snowfall potential with the next storm favors Rochester, LaCrosse and west central Wisconsin.
The National Weather Service in LaCrosse, Wisconsin has issued a winter storm watch for the shaded area for Sunday night and Monday morning.
Snowfall probability of eight inches or more from NOAA's NCEP for Sunday night and Monday morning.
From the National Weather Service at LaCrosse this afternoon, expressing the uncertainity of the path of the next snow producer:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
259 PM CST SAT MAR 9 2013
...ANOTHER EARLY SPRING SNOW STORM FOR THE REGION...
.WINTER IS NOT OVER YET AS ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVY SNOW IS LIKELY
FOR AREA. SNOW WILL MOVE INTO NORTHEAST IOWA AND SOUTHWEST
WISCONSIN LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON...SPREADING NORTHEAST ACROSS THE
AREA SUNDAY EVENING. THE SNOW WILL GRADUALLY EXIT NORTHEAST
MONDAY AFTERNOON.
4 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. WHERE THE HEAVIEST
SNOW FALLS IS UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME. THE BULK OF THE
ACCUMULATIONS WILL OCCUR SUNDAY NIGHT.
I'll keep an eye on the path of the next system and have an update for you here on Updraft on Sunday morning.
Watch for refreezing on highways and sidewalks overnight as the temperatures fall below freezing. Ponding of water in low spots near curbsides may create hazardous conditions.
Craig Edwards