More moisture; a combo package for southeast Minnesota

After a smack of winter weather on Sunday night, southeast Minnesota looks to be in line for another couple of inches of snow tonight.

A winter weather advisory has been posted  by the National Weather Service for southeast Minnesota into west central Wisconsin for tonight.

purpleadvisory
Shaded area under the Winter Weather Advisory. Image:National Weather Service

From the National Weather Service in LaCrosse, Wis.:

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 ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO

7 AM CDT WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LA CROSSE HAS ISSUED A WINTER

WEATHER ADVISORY FOR A WINTRY MIX...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM

THIS EVENING TO 7 AM CDT WEDNESDAY.

* EXPECT A WINTRY MIX TO DEVELOP THIS EVENING...THEN DIMINISH

EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* THE HEAVIEST SNOW AND SLEET RATES WILL OCCUR THIS EVENING.

 

snowselac

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Prediction Center depicts the highest probability of more than 2 inches of snow east of the Mississippi River.

ppoptwoinches
Probability of two or more inches of snow by 7 a.m. CDT Wednesday.

Looking at the North American Mesoscale Forecast System model, we see the simulated radar reflectivity indicating the greatest coverage of mixed rain and snow comes around 10 p.m.  This area of rain changing to snow advances east overnight.

namsimuradar10pm
Simulated radar from NAM valid at 10 p.m. CDT

Note the orange colors in Illinois.  This is a forecast for convective thunderstorms and has created some excitement for the forecasters at the NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.  Here's their severe thunderstorm probability for the next 24 hours.

day1probotlk_1200_wind (1)

Already this morning, heavy rain showers were soaking parts of the southern Plains. The early morning infrared satellite image nicely shows these cold cloud tops (enhanced blue).

unisysirtstm
Infrared satellite from 530 a.m. CDT. Image:Unisys weather

This convective precipitation may cut off some of the moisture supply in our neck of the woods, but a quarter to a third of an inch of welcome moisture may accumulate later today and overnight.

Cool temperatures are in store for Thursday before a warm-up arrives for the weekend.

maxtempthur

Expected high temperatures on Saturday, show readings closer to average.  The 30-year normal maximum temperature for Minneapolis-St. Paul for March 28 is 48 degrees.

satmaxnwsmarh

If you are taking a spring break leading up to Easter weekend, you'll see the outlook favors warm temperatures heading south.

tempeaster

Drier than normal weather is also likely for Florida and the southwest.