Plowable snow spreads across Minnesota today
If you live in the Twin Cities metro area, this would be a good day to get your errands done by early afternoon. A winter storm is moving toward us, and the snow begins around 3 p.m. in the metro area.
The snow begins by late morning in parts of southern and western Minnesota:
Snow will be heavy at times, and 5 to 7 inches are expected in the Twin Cities metro area by the time it tapers off around 1 a.m. Sunday:
Winter storm warnings are in effect today and tonight for much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin:
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The winter storm warning begins at noon in southwestern and south-central Minnesota, and starts at 3 p.m. this Saturday afternoon in the Twin Cities metro area.
In the Duluth area, the winter storm warning begins at 6 p.m.
Here are details of the portion of the winter storm warning that includes the Twin Cities metro area:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
310 AM CST Sat Feb 24 2018
...HEAVY SNOW AND SOME BLOWING SNOW EXPECTED SATURDAY AFTERNOON
AND SATURDAY NIGHT...
.A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from this afternoon through
tonight for areas east of a line from Redwood Falls to St. Cloud,
Minnesota except for Eau Claire and Freeborn counties. A Winter
Weather Advisory is in effect for the remainder of the area.
Heavy snow with rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour will spread into
the area this afternoon or early evening. Given the expected
intensity, conditions will deteriorate rapidly following the onset
of the snow. Snowfall totals of 5 to 7 inches are likely across
the warned area with 3 to 5 inches expected in the advisory area.
In addition, northwest winds gusting to 30 mph late Saturday night
will lead to areas of blowing snow, especially across southern
and eastern Minnesota, and western Wisconsin. Travel could become
very difficult Saturday night through early Sunday.
MNZ050-051-058>063-066>070-076>078-084-085-WIZ023-024-026-241715-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.W.0003.180224T2100Z-180225T1200Z/
Benton-Sherburne-Meeker-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-
McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Waseca-
Steele-St. Croix-Pierce-Pepin-
Including the cities of Foley, Elk River, Litchfield, Monticello,
Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater, Hutchinson, Gaylord,
Chaska, Shakopee, Hastings, Le Sueur, Faribault, Red Wing,
Waseca, Owatonna, Hudson, River Falls, Prescott, and Durand
310 AM CST Sat Feb 24 2018
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 6 AM CST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 7
inches are expected.
* WHERE...Portions of west central Wisconsin and central, east
central, south central and southeast Minnesota.
* WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 6 AM CST Sunday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on difficult travel conditions. Be
prepared for significant reductions in visibility at times.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather
conditions will make travel very hazardous or impossible. If you
must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your
vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for
Minnesota can be found at 511mn.org and for Wisconsin at
511wi.gov, or by calling 5 1 1 in either state.
Updates
Updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and you can read about any watches and warnings in the MPR News live weather blog.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will post road condition updates.
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.