Winter weather advisories this weekend
Lawns that are mostly green in much of southern Minnesota will look like a winter wonderland by this evening.
Snow will spread across southern Minnesota today, arriving in the Twin Cities this afternoon.
Snow is expected to continue overnight and much of Sunday
Here is the total snowfall potential, courtesy of the Twin Cities office of the National Weather Service:
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.
Winter weather advisories for snow, reduced visibilities and difficult driving conditions have been issued for southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro area.
Here are details of the advisory in the Twin Cities:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
322 AM CST SAT DEC 10 2016
...LONG DURATION SNOWFALL EVENT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY FOR
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN...
.A LONG PERIOD OF SNOWFALL WITH ACCUMULATIONS FROM 5 TO 8 INCHES
IS EXPECTED FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY. A WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR LOCATIONS GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH
OF A GRANITE FALLS...TO THE TWIN CITIES...TO CHIPPEWA FALLS LINE.
MNZ060-062-068>070-101730-
/O.EXB.KMPX.WW.Y.0015.161210T2100Z-161212T0000Z/
HENNEPIN-RAMSEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MINNEAPOLIS...ST PAUL...CHASKA...
SHAKOPEE...HASTINGS
322 AM CST SAT DEC 10 2016
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
6 PM CST SUNDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM
THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM CST SUNDAY.
* EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP AROUND 3 PM AND THEN DIMINISH AROUND 6
PM SUNDAY.
* THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL RATES WILL OCCUR BETWEEN 6 AM AND NOON
SUNDAY.
* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 7 INCHES ARE EXPECTED.
* LOOK FOR REDUCED VISIBILITIES AT TIMES.
* PLAN ON DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS PERIODS OF SNOW WILL
CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED
ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS FOR THE STATE YOU ARE CALLING FROM CAN
BE OBTAINED BY CALLING 5 1 1.
The winter weather advisory runs from 9 a.m. today to noon Sunday in southwestern Minnesota.
In south-central Minnesota, the winter weather advisory starts at noon today and ends at noon Sunday.
From the Twin Cities metro area through southeastern Minnesota, the winter weather advisory starts at 3 p.m. today and runs to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Here’s the simulated radar for today through Sunday morning, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 4 km resolution North American Mesoscale forecast model:
I'll post updated information on the snow potential when new forecast model data is available around mid-morning.
10 a.m. update
There are no changes in the projected snowfall amounts or advisories.
The latest computer model info is consistent with the previous run of the model.
Here’s the newest simulated radar from 4 p.m. today through 4 p.m. Sunday, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 4 km resolution North American Mesoscale forecast model:
Cool temps
Highs today will be in the teens over southeastern Minnesota, with single digits to the north:
On Sunday, 20s return to southern and central Minnesota:
Temps will take a big dip by Tuesday, with highs in the single digits above zero in the south:
Below-zero highs are expected in parts of northern Minnesota on Tuesday.
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.