Nudge of milder air Sunday, arctic air intrudes on Monday

A dynamically efficient storm system raced southeast from Fargo-Moorhead through St. Cloud and into the Twin Cities metro overnight producing a burst of heavy snow. The concentrated band of heavy snow expanded down Highway 61 toward Wabasha, Minn.

The center of lowest pressure swiftly moved down Interstate 94, as tracked by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Rapid Update Cycle model.

Surface low at 3 am. cst
Surface low analyzed at 3 a.m. CST by Rapid Update Model. Heaviest snow falling east of the center of the lowest pressure.

By 9 a.m., skies had already cleared in central Minnesota in the wake of the dump of snow, as the low pressure center quickly traveled southeast.

RAP surface 9 a.m. CST
Surface low analyzed by Rapid Update Model at 9 a.m. CST. Winds and temperatures also plotted.

The regional radar at late morning painted the snow in southern Wisconsin headed over Rockford, Ill.

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radar regional 1020am CST
Screen capture of regional radar at 1020 a.m. CST. Image: Wundeerground.com

I measured 5 inches of snow in my front yard, in the southwest metro, shortly before daybreak.

five inch snowfall

The National Weather Service in Chanhassen has posted the snowfall totals, which update as the reports come in.

St. Cloud reported 6 inches of fresh snow, with more than 4 inches at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Six inches of snow were also measured at Oak Center in Wabasha County in southeast Minnesota.  More snow totals are listed here from the La Crosse, Wis., National Weather Service Office.

Bitterly cold temperatures have not surged south in the wake of the snow.  Today will be pretty nice for enjoying the seasonal recreation that comes with living in this part of the country in January. How about a little ice fishing?

A nudge of milder air on Sunday will make conditions even more comfortable for sledding, skating, skiing and snowmobiling.

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Relatively light winds should not add much of a chill on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday winds at noon
Wind forecast in knots at noon on Sunday. Image:National Weather Service

An intrusion of arctic air arrives on Monday.  Cold temperatures will greet you as you wake up on Tuesday morning.

North American Model Tuesday
Forecast surface temperatures, pressure and wind from North American Model valid at 6 a.m. CST on Tuesday. Image:NOAA/Twisterdata.com