Winter storm warning SW Minn. Sunday; SW metro is in a watch Sunday PM
A winter storm is expected to impact southern Minnesota and parts of central Minnesota Sunday and Sunday night, with the heaviest snow expected over southwestern and south-central Minnesota.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model shows the pattern of snow Sunday through Sunday night and Monday morning, and the areas that could see the highest snow totals:
A winter storm warning is in effect from 10 a.m. Sunday morning to 7 a.m. Monday in southwestern Minnesota:
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Details of the winter storm warning:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
318 PM CST Sat Mar 11 2017
...CONFIDENCE IS HIGH ON 6 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...
.Confidence is high that snow will develop in west central and
southwest Minnesota after sunrise Sunday. Placement of the
heavier snow band continues in southwest Minnesota, mainly along
and southwest of the Minnesota River Valley. How far northeast the
heavier snow develops remains uncertain and therefore the winter
storm watch continues.
A broad area of 2 or more inches of snow is expected along and
southwest of the Interstate 94 corridor in Minnesota to the Iowa
border. Snowfall amounts of 6 to 8 inches will be common along and
southwest of the Minnesota River Valley. The heavier snow is
expected Sunday morning, through Sunday afternoon.
MNZ054-064-073-074-082-120530-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WS.A.0004.170312T1200Z-170313T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.W.0003.170312T1500Z-170313T1200Z/
Lac Qui Parle-Yellow Medicine-Redwood-Brown-Watonwan-
Including the cities of Madison, Granite Falls, Redwood Falls,
New Ulm, and St James
318 PM CST Sat Mar 11 2017
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM SUNDAY TO 7 AM CDT
MONDAY...
The National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen has issued
a Winter Storm Warning for snow...which is in effect from 10 AM
Sunday to 7 AM CDT Monday. The Winter Storm Watch is no longer in
effect.
* Expect snow to develop around 10 AM Sunday and then diminish
around 7 AM Monday.
* The heaviest snowfall rates will occur between 10 am and 6 PM Sunday.
* Total snow accumulations of 6 to 8 with locally higher amounts.
* Look for significant reductions in visibility at times.
* Plan on difficult driving conditions.
Precautionary/Preparedness actions...
A winter storm warning for snow means severe winter weather
conditions are expected. If you must travel...keep an extra
flashlight...food and water in your vehicle in case of an
emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are
calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.
Parts of far southwestern Minnesota are in a winter weather advisory:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
312 PM CST Sat Mar 11 2017
MNZ089-097-098-SDZ038>040-054>056-062-120515-
/O.NEW.KFSD.WW.Y.0007.170312T1200Z-170313T0900Z/
Nobles-Pipestone-Rock-Beadle-Kingsbury-Brookings-Miner-Lake-Moody-
Minnehaha-
312 PM CST Sat Mar 11 2017
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM SUNDAY TO 4 AM CDT
MONDAY...
The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a Winter
Weather Advisory for snow and blowing snow, which is in effect
from 7 AM Sunday to 4 AM CDT Monday.
* TIMING...Snow will develop on Sunday morning and continue
through Sunday night.
* ACCUMULATIONS...Snow accumulation of 3 to 6 inches will be
possible. 6 to 9 inches of snow is possible across parts of
southwest Minnesota so if the storm tracks just 20 to 30 miles
farther south amounts could quickly increase.
* WIND AND VISIBILITY...Southeast winds of 15 to 25 mph will turn
to the north with gusts of 30 to 35 mph possible Sunday night.
* WIND CHILL VALUES...Wind chill values will fall to around zero
late Sunday night into early Monday morning.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Winter Weather Advisory for snow and blowing snow means that
visibilities will be limited due to a combination of falling and
blowing snow. Use caution when traveling...especially in open
areas.
The southwestern half of the Twin Cities metro area, plus much of central and southeastern Minnesota, remain in a winter storm watch that begins Sunday afternoon and runs through Monday:
There is the potential for heavy snow in the watch area.
Some details of the winter storm watch, from the Twin Cities office of the NWS:
Wright-Hennepin-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-
Blue Earth-Waseca-Steele-Faribault-Freeborn-
Including the cities of Monticello, Minneapolis, Chaska,
Shakopee, Hastings, Le Sueur, Faribault, Red Wing, Mankato,
Waseca, Owatonna, Blue Earth, and Albert Lea
318 PM CST Sat Mar 11 2017
...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...
* Snow is possible from Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon.
* Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches are possible.
* Significant reductions in visibility are possible.
* Plan on difficult driving conditions.
Precautionary/Preparedness actions...
A winter storm watch means there is potential for significant
snow...sleet or ice accumulations that may impact travel.
Continue to monitor the latest forecasts.
Metro snow
The Twin Cities metro area could see a wide range of snow totals Sunday afternoon through Sunday night.
I wouldn't be surprised if the far northeastern part of the 7 county metro area ends up with 1 to 3 inches of snow, while the far southwest metro sees some 4 or 5 inch totals.
The NWS has this summary of the winter storm:
Minnesota Public Radio will keep you updated on this winter storm.
Updated weather information will also be posted on the MPR news live weather blog.
You can also check with the Twin Cities office, La Crosse, WI office and Sioux Falls, SD office of the National Weather Service for weather updates. The NWS sites have clickable maps for the forecast at your specific location.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department of Transportation will have current road conditions.
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Fridays, and at 7:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.