Winter storm arrives Monday: Heavy wet snowfall

And so it begins.

I've been posting for a few days now on the likelihood of a developing winter storm for Minnesota Monday and Tuesday. It now looks like all systems are "go" for our biggest snowfall event of the yet young winter season so far Monday and Tuesday.

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Twin Cities NWS

Weather headlines:

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  • Winter Storm warning issued along the Minnesota River counties southwest of the Twin Cities.

  • Winter storm watch continues for Twin Cities metro. (May still be upgraded to warning status)

  • Snow moves into Minnesota from south to north Monday morning.

  • Heaviest snowfall rates from Monday late afternoon through Monday night.

  • Thundersnow is possible with snowfall rates of 1+" per hour late Monday

  • 5" to 12"+ snowfall totals are likely in southwest Minnesota to near the western Twin Cities metro.

  • Lesser snowfall totals in the 2" to 6" range most likely in eastern metro and western Wisconsin

  • Forecast snowfall totals may still shift depending on overnight model runs.

  • Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning commutes the highest impact rush hours.

1128 msp

Here's a look at our first 'real' winter storm of the season. A big wet sloppy low pressure system slides north from Iowa Monday.

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NOAA

Moisture levels approaching 1" of liquid and temperatures near the freezing mark mean a heavy wet snowfall event. This will affect commutes for Monday afternoon rush hour and Tuesday. Winter storm warnings are out southwest of the Twin Cities.  There are still a few storm track uncertainties, thus The Twin Cities remains under a winter storm watch.

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MONTICELLO...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...CHASKA...SHAKOPEE...HASTINGS...FARIBAULT...WASECA...OWATONNA...ALBERT LEA

215 PM CST SUN NOV 29 2015

...WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING...

* SNOW IS POSSIBLE FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING.

* SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN VISIBILITY ARE POSSIBLE.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE.

* THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS.

Precipitation onset timing moves from south to north Monday morning.

Bottom Line: This looks like it will be the biggest winter storm of the season so far for the Twin Cities and most of southwest Minnesota. Snow will develop and move north into Minnesota Monday morning. The heaviest snowfall arrives late Monday afternoon through Monday night. This will be a heavy wet March-like 'heart attack' type snow, so use caution shoveling.

More on the system with tonight's model runs.