Winter’s last gasp? Spring fever next week

Get ready for a wild weather ride.

Winter takes a bow this week as a quick hitting snow system snarls rush hour Tuesday morning. One more arctic blast follows Wednesday and Thursday. A major upper air pattern change sends waves of milder air into Minnesota by next week.

  • Blizzard watch Tuesday west of the metro

  • Snow develops Monday night peaking Tuesday morning

  • Sub-zero surge Wednesday and Thursday mornings

  • Pacific air mass brings 40s and 50s late next week

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Cabin fever to spring fever in 1 week? Welcome to Minnesota in March.

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Twin Cities NWS

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MORRIS...GLENWOOD...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...GRANITE FALLS...OLIVIA...HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...ST. JAMES...MANKATO...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH

958 PM CST SUN MAR 1 2015

...BLIZZARD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

* TIMING...MID TUESDAY MORNING UNTIL TUESDAY EVENING

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MPH AND VISIBILITY LESS THAN A QUARTER MILE

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES. THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY DANGEROUS.

Quick hitting low

Here's Tuesday's low pressure system. Some snow develops tonight, but the steadiest snow hits Tuesday morning just in time for rush hour. Another arctic surge follows Wednesday.

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NOAA

The best bet for snow totals? Most models trend about 2 to 3 inches for the metro, with heavier totals north and less south. You will probably need the shovel (and some extra commuting patience) Tuesday.

Here are the snowfall estimates from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Global Forecast System for Tuesday.

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NOAA GFS snowfall output via wxcaster.com

Spring fever outbreak next week?

The significant warm up I talked about last week is still on tap.

After one more arctic shot this week, a major change in the upper air pattern to a Pacific flow pumps waves of increasingly mild air into Minnesota starting this Friday, and increasing next week. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts output (below) may be optimistic, but all major models indicate a significant warming trend next week.

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Weatherspark

Hang in there Minnesota. Spring may arrive a bit early this year.