Dense fog to redevelop south, heavy snow to fall north and then immersed in cold
Heavy snow to fall over northern Minnesota tonight.
Dense fog and periods of drizzle, perhaps freezing drizzle, will hamper travel in much of the southern two-thirds of Minnesota and into Iowa and Wisconsin.
Check out the weather headlines across the nation. There is a lot of weather going on in the USA.
As the Spirit of St. Louis Airport checks in with sunshine and 74 F this afternoon, we peer out the window and gaze at snow cover and a persistent fog. Yes, temperatures are in the middle 70s in portions of Missouri this afternoon, while in our neck of the woods, a wintry mix is expanding in eastern North Dakota and west central Minnesota.
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Unreal temperatures in Missouri this afternoon. Source: NOAA/NWS
Here is the developing snow that may be mixed with sleet and freezing rain this evening before changing to all snow overnight.
Screen capture regional radar 3:30 p.m. CST. Source: Weather Underground
As the precipitation develops through the evening it will spread into northern Minnesota depositing several inches overnight. A winter storm warning stretches from Detroit Lakes through Bemidji to International Falls into Tuesday morning.
Total snowfall in portions of northern Minnesota will range up to nine inches by 10 a.m. CST Tuesday.
Winter storm warning tonight.
NOAA's NCEP forecast of the most favored region to receive 8 or more inches of snow is outlined in green.
In the local Twin Cities Metro region, fog will thicken overnight and there will be periods of light drizzle, perhaps freezing in outlying ares. Be cautious when traveling later tonight and Tuesday morning.
On the heels of this mid-winter conundrum, a blast of arctic air will invade the upper Midwest on Tuesday night and Wednesday. Be prepared for bitter wind chill readings on Wednesday into Wednesday night.
Thursday and Friday mornings are likely to be well below zero over the state. The fresh snow cover over northern Minnesota is expected to enhance the overnight bone chilling cold.
Midnight Thursday temperature forecast from the NAM. Red color depicts surface temperatures approaching 30 below zero. Source:NOAA/College of Dupage
One final note: There is a risk of severe thunderstorms well to our south on Tuesday in the much warmer air mass. The Storm Prediction Center paints this region outlined in red in a moderate risk.
A moderation appears to be shaping up as we reach the weekend.
Craig Edwards