Snow up north, followed by wind and a cold weekend

Our Friday storm had some spring characteristics. It was neither a Colorado low from the southwest nor an Alberta Clipper from the northwest. Rather, it was a cross between them.

The resulting low has been spreading snow eastward across mainly northern Minnesota with a little mixed precipitation along the southern edge near the Twin Cities metro area in the morning.

Here is the big picture from the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen:

March 21 - MPX
After the Friday storm, it will be a very chilly weekend for late March.

The snow in northern Minnesota was heavy and wet. The snow has not ended yet in the northeast as I write this late Friday afternoon so some snowfall reports are not final, but in general 4 to 8 inches of snow was common from the Red River in the northwest to the Iron Range, Duluth, Two Harbors and up through the Arrowhead.

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.

Eight to 12 inches fell north of a line from Squaw Lake to Tower including around 11 inches in the International Falls and Kabetogama areas.  At last report, the Duluth National Weather Service office had 27 inches of snow depth on the ground for skiing or snowmobiling.

A blizzard warning that has been out for northwestern Minnesota, including Crookston, will expire at 7 p.m. Friday.  Likewise, a winter storm warning for northern St. Louis County, including Ely, and a winter weather advisory from Hibbing through the Arrowhead will expire at that same time.

Snowfall is winding down except for northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. You can check for the remnants showing up on the Duluth NWS radar.

A cold front associated with this storm has been sweeping eastward across Minnesota, pushed by very strong winds.  Wind gusts have been exceeding 40 mph at times from west central to southern Minnesota including Marshall and Redwood Falls this afternoon, and also at Brainerd in the central part of the state.

The good news is that the wind advisory out for parts of western and southern Minnesota will expire at 7 p.m. Friday and the winds will diminish overnight.

Saturday promises to be at least 20 degrees colder than normal.  Here is a general picture of the forecast high temperatures:

MaxT2_minnesota
Saturday's forecast highs are just in the teens and 20s. (Source:Weather Prediction Center)

Some outer suburbs of the Twin Cities might struggle to reach 20 degrees.  Other forecast highs are Mankato 22, Worthington 24, Brainerd and Alexandria 17, Grand Rapids 15, and Baudette 14.

Sunday promises to be a bit less cold. The forecast map shows some snow sliding out of the Rockies and across the plains, possibly clipping southwestern Minnesota with some snow Sunday night.

March 21 - Sunday map
Sunday should be a quiet but chilly day. (Source:NWS)

The hot chocolate season continues.