A mild Sunday; rain and snow on Monday
Saturday was much warmer than normal in most of Minnesota, and Sunday will be another mild day.
Sunday highs will be in the 40s in much of Minnesota, with some lower 50s in the far south:
Monday will start out mild in southern and central Minnesota, but temperatures are expected to fall during the afternoon hours.
On Tuesday, highs will be in the 20s in central and southern Minnesota, with teens north:
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.
Twin Cities metro area highs are expected to be in the 20s Tuesday through Friday.
Rain and snow
Northern Minnesota could see some scattered showers Sunday evening, and much of Minnesota will have a chance of showers overnight Sunday night.
Monday will feature snow spreading from northwestern into central and northeastern Minnesota.
The Twin Cities metro area and southeastern Minnesota should see mainly rain during the daylight hours of Monday, followed by a changeover to snow in the evening.
Periods of snow are expected in much of Minnesota Monday night, and it could linger into Tuesday morning in the northeast.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern Sunday evening through Monday night:
The color chart to the right of the loop refers to the strength of the signal that returns to the radar, not to the amount of rain or snow.
The track of the low pressure system and the timing of the changeover to all snow will determine snow totals, but it looks like parts of northern and central Minnesota could see several inches of snow.
The Twin Cities metro area and southeastern Minnesota would tend to have lighter snow amounts, but check later forecast updates.
Winter storm watch
The Duluth office of the National Weather Service has issue a winter storm watch that runs from 10 a.m. Monday to noon Tuesday in much of north-central and northeastern Minnesota:
Details of the watch:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Duluth MN
913 PM CST Sat Dec 2 2017
...HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLE NORTH OF HIGHWAY 2 IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA
MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING...
.A potent low pressure system is expected to develop over eastern
Wyoming and move across the Northland Monday into Tuesday. Some
heavy snow will be possible, especially for areas north of
Highway 2 in northern Minnesota. Most of the area will see rain
to start off Monday morning, transitioning to all snow Monday
evening, with blowing snow possible due to strong northwest winds
on the backside of this low pressure system. Lingering snow and
gusty winds will persist through Tuesday morning.
MNZ010>012-018-019-031400-
/O.CON.KDLH.WS.A.0009.171204T1600Z-171205T1800Z/
Koochiching-North St. Louis-Northern Cook/Northern Lake-
North Itasca-Central St. Louis-
Including the cities of International Falls, Ely, Isabella,
Bigfork, and Hibbing
913 PM CST Sat Dec 2 2017
...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING
THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING...
* WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Plan on difficult travel
conditions with blowing and drifting snow possible due to
gusty northwest winds. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 8
inches are possible, with localized amounts up to 10 inches.
* WHERE...Koochiching, North St. Louis, Northern Cook/Northern
Lake, North Itasca and Central St. Louis Counties.
* WHEN...From Monday through Tuesday morning. Rain may not switch
to snow until late Monday afternoon or evening in the
Arrowhead.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Significant reductions in visibility due
to blowing and drifting snow are possible. Some slick roads
will also be possible, leading to hazardous travel 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.
Check later updates if you have travel planned in northern or central Minnesota from Monday into Tuesday morning.
Programming note
You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.