Blizzard delivers, wintry weekend chill

Well that was nice.

Minnesota first major winter storm delivered as expected. Hundreds of spin-outs and accidents are reported across Minnesota highways. Sadly, fatalities and injuries are also reported.

Impressive snowfall totals to 20" are coming in from western to north central Minnesota.

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  • 1 N Ortonville [Big Stone Co, MN] CO-OP OBSERVER reports SNOW of 9.00 INCH at 4:45 PM CST -- SNOWFALL HAS ENDED. STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATION.

  • 10 ESE Bemidji [Beltrami Co, MN] PUBLIC reports HEAVY SNOW of 11.00 INCH at 3:16 PM CST -- VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. MEASURED AMOUNT IN FROHN TOWNSHIP.

  • Osage [Becker Co, MN] PUBLIC reports HEAVY SNOW of 13.00 INCH at 2:26 PM CST -- VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

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Duluth NWS

Gales of November

You don't see this everyday. Storm surge on Lake Superior?

Little Marais [Lake Co, MN] PUBLIC reports SNOW of 1.00 INCH at 5:27 PM CST -- STORM SURGE 6FT DEEP AT LAKESIDE WITH ESTIMATED 5-10 FT WAVES WITHIN 1/4 MI OF SHORE. DEAD TREES FALLING WITH GUSTS TO 25-30 MPH.

Wind gusts reached 50 to 71 mph in eastern South Dakota. Gusts over 50 mph blasted sideways snow across Minnesota.

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Duluth NWS

Blizzard conditions wind down overnight across Minnesota as the storm pulls gradually east toward Lake Superior. Wintry high pressure builds into Minnesota Saturday.

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NOAA GFS model via tropicaltidbits.com

Sunny skies return this weekend. Temps finally hover in the more late November like 30s.

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Graphic: Twin Cities NWS

Watching Tuesday rain snow potential

The next system on the radar scope arrives Tuesday. Right now the system looks marginally cold enough for a potential rain-snow mix across southern Minnesota.

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NOAA GFS model via tropicaltidbits.com

Dig out and stay tuned.