Snow passing south; cold air going nowhere

A swath of light snow, accumulating an inch or two will pass through southwest Minnesota and Iowa this evening and overnight. With the cold temperatures this coating of snow will make for hazardous travel.  Be cautious when taking to the roadways headed southwest and south of the Twin Cities.

At 4 p.m., light snow was reported at both Pipestone and Worthington in southwest Minnesota.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Prediction Center has painted the most likely probability of two inches of snow through central Iowa tonight.

The enhanced infrared satellite image from 3:30 p.m. shows the colder cloud tops about to sweep across southern Minnesota and Iowa.  The cloud cover will hold temperatures up this evening but clear later tonight. That should allow the mercury to slip close to zero in southern Minnesota.

It is interesting to note that the higher, colder cloud tops are not associated directly with the snowfall.  It is very difficult for high cirrus clouds to drop the icy snow crystals  to the surface.

Gusty winds will lower wind chill readings into the range of 25 to 35 degrees below zero overnight in northern Minnesota. The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill advisory for much of Minnesota overnight.  It may be late winter, but wind chills this cold can freeze exposed flesh in 15 minutes.

Cold temperatures will hang around for awhile.  Thaw has been put on the back burner!

[image]

The latest report of the sub-zero tracker from the Chanhassen National Weather Service Office has Minneapolis-St. Paul approaching the t op 10 ranking. Looking at the weather maps, the forecast suggests we have a good chance of at least jumping to number 8.  Records go back to the 1860s.

[image]

Here's a look at the expected lows on Friday morning.  Bundle up!

[image]

NOAA forecasters provided this prediction for bitter cold  temperatures on Saturday.  I'll remind you that Saturday is March 1.