Blizzard and winter storm warnings for parts of Minnesota on Monday

A powerful low pressure system will move across Minnesota Monday and Monday evening.

The Twin Cities metro area should escape the storm's heaviest snow and strongest winds, but visibilities will be reduced at times Monday evening.

There will be periods of rain in the metro area during the daylight hours of Monday, with an isolated thunderstorm also possible.

The rain is expected to change to snow in the Twin Cities metro area Monday evening, and snow accumulations of around one inch are possible.

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It looks like the far northern and northwestern parts of the metro area could see a couple of inches of snow, if the low pressure system tracks as expected.

Much higher snow totals are expected over much of northern Minnesota.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern Monday morning through Tuesday afternoon:

rt1203rad2
NOAA NAM simulated radar from Monday morning through Tuesday afternoon, via tropicaltidbits

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.

Warnings and advisories

Blizzard warnings are in effect from noon Monday to midnight Monday in parts of far western Minnesota:

rt1203wwrn
NWS Grand Forks, ND

Whiteout conditions are expected at times in the eastern parts of North and South Dakota and from Clay county southward through Big Stone county in Minnesota.

A summary:

rt1203wwrn2
NWS Grand forks, ND

Details of the blizzard warning:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Grand Forks ND

314 PM CST Sun Dec 3 2017

MNZ003-029-NDZ038-039-049-052-053-050600-

/O.UPG.KFGF.WS.A.0004.171204T1500Z-171205T0600Z/

/O.NEW.KFGF.BZ.W.0004.171204T1800Z-171205T0600Z/

Clay-Wilkin-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-Richland-

Including the cities of Moorhead, Breckenridge, Valley City,

Fargo, Lisbon, Enderlin, Gwinner, Milnor, Forman, Rutland,

and Wahpeton

314 PM CST Sun Dec 3 2017

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON MONDAY TO MIDNIGHT CST

MONDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Travel will be very

dangerous to impossible, including during the evening commute on

Monday. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are expected.

* WHERE...Portions of west central Minnesota and southeast North

Dakota.

* WHEN...From noon Monday to midnight CST Monday night.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 55 mph will

cause whiteout conditions in blowing snow. Significant

drifting of the snow is likely.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are

expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds

and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout

conditions, making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If

you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get

stranded, stay with your vehicle. The latest road conditions for

the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

To the east of the blizzard warnings, there are winter storm warnings in effect from noon Monday until midnight:

Details of the winter storm warning:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Grand Forks ND

314 PM CST Sun Dec 3 2017

MNZ027-028-030-031-040-050600-

/O.UPG.KFGF.WS.A.0004.171204T1500Z-171205T0600Z/

/O.NEW.KFGF.WS.W.0002.171204T1800Z-171205T0600Z/

West Becker-East Becker-West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Grant-

Including the cities of Detroit Lakes, Wolf Lake, Fergus Falls,

Perham, New York Mills, Parkers Prairie, Henning, Battle Lake,

Elbow Lake, Hoffman, Ashby, Herman, and Barrett

314 PM CST Sun Dec 3 2017

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON MONDAY TO MIDNIGHT

CST MONDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...Mixed light rain and snow will develop Monday and become

all snow Monday afternoon and evening. Plan on difficult travel

conditions, including during the evening commute on Monday.

Total snow accumulations of 4 to 6 inches are expected.

* WHERE...West Becker, East Becker, West Otter Tail, East Otter

Tail and Grant Counties.

* WHEN...From noon Monday to midnight CST Monday night.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 50 mph will cause

widespread blowing and drifting snow.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning for snow and blowing 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.

As of early Sunday evening, a winter storm watch was in effect for much of the remainder of northern Minnesota.

rt1203wch2
NWS Duluth

You can check with the Duluth and Grand Forks, ND offices of the NWS for updates on the watches and warnings in northern Minnesota.

Road conditions are available from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

A winter weather advisory runs from southwestern Minnesota up through central Minnesota and then over through Kanabec county Monday afternoon and evening:

rt1203wwrn3
NWS Twin Cities

Details of the winter weather advisory:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

322 PM CST Sun Dec 3 2017

...STRONG STORM TO BRING WIND AND SNOW TO THE REGION MONDAY INTO

MONDAY NIGHT...

.A strong low pressure system will move through Minnesota on

Monday. A cold front will move from west to east across the state

and bring quickly falling temperatures and increasing northwest winds.

Rain will changeover to snow as temperatures fall from Monday

afternoon through Monday night. Snow accumulation from 2 to 4

inches are expected across western MN and will be accompanied by

winds approaching 50 MPH. The combination of falling snow and a

very strong northwest wind will create the potential for blizzard

or nar blizzard conditions. A winter storm warning is in effect

from noon Monday until midnight Monday night across west central

Minnesota. A winter weather advisory is in effect for much of

central Minnesota from 3 PM Monday until midnight where the

combination of 1 to 3 inches of snow and strong northwest wind

will cause reduced visibility and areas of blowing snow.

MNZ043>045-049-050-057-058-065-073-040530-

/O.NEW.KMPX.WW.Y.0015.171204T2100Z-171205T0600Z/

Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stearns-Benton-Kandiyohi-Meeker-

Renville-Redwood-

Including the cities of Little Falls, Princeton, Mora, St Cloud,

Foley, Willmar, Litchfield, Olivia, and Redwood Falls

322 PM CST Sun Dec 3 2017

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM MONDAY TO MIDNIGHT

CST MONDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Plan on slippery road

conditions. In addition, areas of poor visibility are expected. Total

snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are expected.

* WHERE...Portions of central, east central and southwest

Minnesota.

* WHEN...Rain will change to snow mainly after 3 PM Monday and

will taper off through midnight.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 50 mph will

cause areas of blowing and drifting snow.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow and blowing snow means periods

of snow and blowing 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 Minnesota can be found at 511mn.org and for

Wisconsin at 511wi.gov, or by calling 5 1 1 in either state.

A wind advisory will be in effect from mid-afternoon on Monday through Monday evening for the Twin Cities metro area and parts of southern Minnesota:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

310 PM CST Sun Dec 3 2017

 

MNZ051-052-059>063-066>070-074>078-082>085-091>093-040515-

/O.NEW.KMPX.WI.Y.0010.171204T2100Z-171205T0600Z/

Sherburne-Isanti-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-McLeod-

Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-

Watonwan-Blue Earth-Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn-

Including the cities of Elk River, Cambridge, Monticello,

Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater, Hutchinson, Gaylord,

Chaska, Shakopee, Hastings, New Ulm, St Peter, Le Sueur,

Faribault, Red Wing, St James, Mankato, Waseca, Owatonna,

Fairmont, Blue Earth, and Albert Lea

310 PM CST Sun Dec 3 2017

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM MONDAY TO MIDNIGHT CST

MONDAY NIGHT...

The National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen has issued

a Wind Advisory, which is in effect from 3 PM Monday to midnight

CST Monday night.

* TIMING...Strong northwest winds will develop after 3 PM Monday

and continue through midnight.

* WINDS...Northwest wind 25 to 35 mph with gusts 45 to 50 mph

possible.

* IMPACTS...Travel may be hazardous, especially for high profile

vehicles. Lightweight unsecured objects may be blown around.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Advisory means that wind gusts in excess of 45 mph are

expected. Winds this strong can make driving difficult...

especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

Updates

Updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and you can also read about any watches and warnings at the MPR news live weather blog.

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.