Light snow today; freezing rain and snow for MN on Christmas
We could use a bit of snow to brighten up the landscape.
The snow that's piled up along our streets and roads is off-white or gray, due to our recent warm weather.
Central and southern Minnesota will see periods of snow today, with the heaviest amounts to the southeast:
Some rain could be mixed with the snow at times this morning.
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The Twin Cities metro area could see 1 to 2 inches of snow, with the higher amounts in the southeast.
There's a winter weather advisory until 9 p.m. today for south-central and southeastern Minnesota, and western Wisconsin, where 2 to 4 inches of snow are possible today:
Closer to the Twin Cities, in Rice and Goodhue counties, the winter weather advisory ends at 6 p.m. today.
Here are details of the winter weather advisory, from the NWS:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
322 AM CST FRI DEC 23 2016
...ACCUMULATING SNOW EXPECTED FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN
MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN TODAY...
...SIGNIFICANT ICING POSSIBLE SUNDAY ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...
.SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED TODAY FROM
SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. AREAS
AFFECTED WILL BE MAINLY THE COUNTIES DUE SOUTH OF THE TWIN CITIES
METRO ALONG THE INTERSTATE 35 AND I90 CORRIDOR IN MINNESOTA...AND
EASTWARD ALONG THE INTERSTATE 94 CORRIDOR IN WISCONSIN. THESE
SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS COULD MAKE FOR HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS
LEADING UP TO THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
A POWERFUL WINTER STORM WILL TRACK ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS INTO
NORTHERN MINNESOTA BY SUNDAY NIGHT. PATCHY FREEZING DRIZZLE
DEVELOPING SATURDAY NIGHT WILL BECOME STEADIER FREEZING RAIN SUNDAY
MORNING WITH ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF A QUARTER INCH POSSIBLE BY LATE
AFTERNOON. PRECIPITATION SHOULD BECOME ALL RAIN BY LATE SUNDAY
AFTERNOON...BUT THERE REMAINS SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHEN EXACTLY
THAT WILL HAPPEN.
MNZ077-078-085-093-231730-
/O.EXT.KMPX.WW.Y.0017.161223T1200Z-161224T0000Z/
RICE-GOODHUE-STEELE-FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FARIBAULT...RED WING...OWATONNA...
ALBERT LEA
322 AM CST FRI DEC 23 2016
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS
EVENING...
* EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP AROUND 6 AM THIS MORNING AND THEN
DIMINISH AROUND 6 PM THIS EVENING.
* THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL RATES WILL OCCUR BETWEEN 9 AM AND 4 PM
FRIDAY.
* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED.
* LOOK FOR REDUCED VISIBILITIES AT TIMES.
* PLAN ON SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS...INCLUDING DURING THE EVENING
COMMUTE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS PERIODS OF SNOW WILL
CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED
ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS FOR THE STATE YOU ARE CALLING FROM CAN
BE OBTAINED BY CALLING 5 1 1.
NOAA’s Global Forecast System model shows today's snow pattern:
Christmas storm
Travel weather looks good for Minnesota tomorrow, but travel conditions will deteriorate on Christmas.
NOAA’s Global Forecast System model shows the strong low pressure system moving from Nebraska through northwestern Minnesota from Christmas morning through Christmas Day and Christmas night:
The storm will create travel problems due to freezing rain, sleet, snow and high winds.
Here's a summary, courtesy of the Twin Cities office of the National Weather Service:
In the Twin Cities, there is a good chance of some freezing rain from Christmas morning into the early afternoon, then strong winds and rain into the overnight hours. A thunderstorm is also possible, mainly Christmas afternoon and evening.
Periods of light snow and strong winds are likely in the metro area on Monday.
Winter storm watches have been issued for Christmas Day into Monday for much of central and northern Minnesota. A combination of freezing rain, sleet, heavy snow and high winds is possible over much of northern and central Minnesota. Winds could gust over 50 mph in far northwestern Minnesota, where a blizzard watch is in effect from noon Christmas Day to noon Monday:
More than 8 inches of snow could accumulate over northwestern Minnesota, and strong winds could cause whiteout conditions at times.
Here's a summary, from the Grand Forks office of the National Weather Service:
And some details of the blizzard watch:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
332 AM CST FRI DEC 23 2016
MNZ001-004-007-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038-054-250945-
/O.CON.KFGF.BZ.A.0003.161225T1800Z-161226T1800Z/
WEST POLK-KITTSON-WEST MARSHALL-TOWNER-CAVALIER-PEMBINA-BENSON-
RAMSEY-EASTERN WALSH COUNTY-EDDY-NELSON-GRAND FORKS-GRIGGS-STEELE-
TRAILL-BARNES-WESTERN WALSH COUNTY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CROOKSTON...EAST GRAND FORKS...
HALLOCK...KARLSTAD...LANCASTER...WARREN...STEPHEN...ARGYLE...
CANDO...LANGDON...CAVALIER...WALHALLA...DRAYTON...PEMBINA...
NECHE...ST. THOMAS...FORT TOTTEN...MADDOCK...LEEDS...
MINNEWAUKAN...DEVILS LAKE...GRAFTON...PARK RIVER...NEW ROCKFORD...
LAKOTA...MCVILLE...ANETA...TOLNA...GRAND FORKS...COOPERSTOWN...
FINLEY...HOPE...MAYVILLE...HILLSBORO...HATTON...PORTLAND...
VALLEY CITY...EDINBURG...ADAMS...LANKIN
332 AM CST FRI DEC 23 2016
...BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
MONDAY MORNING...
* TIMING...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE FROM SUNDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY MORNING.
* WINDS / VISIBILITIES...WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 55 MPH COULD
CAUSE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS IN BLOWING SNOW. SIGNIFICANT
DRIFTING OF THE SNOW IS LIKELY...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS.
DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWER LINES IS POSSIBLE
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 7 TO 13 INCHES
ARE POSSIBLE.
* IMPACTS...TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES.
THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY
DANGEROUS.
Updates through the storm
Minnesota Public Radio will keep you updated on the storm throughout this weekend.
You'll also be able to read about the developing storm here on the Updraft blog, and you will see updated winter storm information on our severe weather live blog.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation will have current road conditions.