Shower chance Sunday; winter storm watch for Monday snow
We watched our snowcover shrink a bit Saturday afternoon.
We'll probably be watching the snow pile up again on Monday.
So it goes during March in Minnesota!
Mild temps, but breezy on Sunday
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Our average high temp is 35 degrees this time of year in the Twin Cities metro area.
We'll probably reach the mid 40s Sunday afternoon.
Most of Minnesota should see highs in the 40s Sunday afternoon, with some upper 30s in parts of the far north:
Minnesota will see some drizzle and showers at times on Sunday. There could be some areas in northern Minnesota with a mix of light rain, drizzle, freezing drizzle and snowflakes early Sunday.
Winter storm watch starts Monday
The National Weather Service has expanded the winter storm watch to include most of the Twin Cities metro area from 6 a.m. Monday through 6 a.m. Tuesday:
Details of the Twin Cities portion of the winter storm watch:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
228 PM CST Sat Mar 3 2018
...HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT...
.A winter storm watch has been issued for Monday into Monday
night for locations near and north of Interstate 94, including
most of the Twin Cities metro area.
Precipitation is expected to rapidly transition to all snow
Monday morning, with heavy snow possible into Monday evening.
Total snow accumulations in excess of 6 inches are expected
across the watch area, with the highest totals expected along the
Interstate 35 corridor north of the Twin Cities metro area. In
addition, northeast winds gusting to 30 mph will lead to some
blowing and drifting snow. Given the possibility of high snowfall
rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour, travel will likely become
difficult Monday across the watch area. There is still some
uncertainty on when the precipitation will change to snow and when
the heaviest snow will occur. It is possible that both commutes on
Monday could be significantly impacted by wintry weather, so check
for forecast updates and plan accordingly.
MNZ042-049-051-059>063-070-WIZ024-026-028-040430-
/O.EXA.KMPX.WS.A.0004.180305T1200Z-180306T1200Z/
Todd-Stearns-Sherburne-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-
Dakota-Pierce-Pepin-Eau Claire-
Including the cities of Long Prairie, St Cloud, Elk River,
Monticello, Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater, Hastings,
River Falls, Prescott, Durand, and Eau Claire
228 PM CST Sat Mar 3 2018
...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE
MONDAY NIGHT...
* WHAT...Mixed precipitation will change to snow Monday morning.
Total snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches, with localized
amounts up to 10 inches, and ice accumulations of a light glaze
are possible.
* WHERE...Portions of west central Wisconsin and central and
east central Minnesota.
* WHEN...From Monday morning through late Monday night.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on difficult travel conditions,
including during the morning commute on Monday. Significant
reductions in visibility are possible.
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.
Scott and Carver county on the southwestern side of the Twin Cities metro area aren't in the winter storm watch, but they could see several inches of snow and slippery roads Monday and Monday evening.
Winter storm watches have been issued for Monday and Monday night across a good portion of Minnesota and western Wisconsin:
The winter storm watch begins at 3 a.m. Monday and runs until 6 a.m. Tuesday in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.
Details of the watch in northeastern Minnesota:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Duluth MN
246 PM CST Sat Mar 3 2018
...HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY NIGHT...
.A complex low pressure system will affect the Northland as early
as tonight, but especially later Sunday night into Monday night.
The low pressure system will move slowly across the Northern
Plains and Upper Midwest from Sunday night into Tuesday. A band
of potentially heavy snow is expected to develop across portions
of Minnesota and Wisconsin late Sunday night into Monday, and
continue into early Tuesday. This system has the potential to
bring more than 6 inches of new snow to parts of central
and northern Minnesota, portions of the North Shore of Lake
Superior, and northern Wisconsin. There remains uncertainty
regarding the track of the low and when the precipitation will
become all snow so changes in the snowfall forecast will likely
occur over the next 24 to 36 hours. If you have travel plans
early, be sure to monitor the latest forecasts.
MNZ020-025-026-033>038-WIZ001>004-006>009-041030-
/O.EXT.KDLH.WS.A.0006.180305T0900Z-180306T1200Z/
Southern Lake/North Shore-North Cass-South Itasca-South Cass-
Crow Wing-Northern Aitkin-South Aitkin-Carlton/South St. Louis-
Pine-Douglas-Bayfield-Ashland-Iron-Burnett-Washburn-Sawyer-Price-
Including the cities of Two Harbors, Silver Bay, Walker,
Grand Rapids, Pine River, Brainerd, Hill City, Aitkin, Duluth,
Pine City, Hinckley, Superior, Washburn, Bayfield, Ashland,
Hurley, Grantsburg, Spooner, Hayward, and Phillips
246 PM CST Sat Mar 3 2018
...WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT
THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT...
* WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 6 inches
or more are possible.
* WHERE...Portions of north central and northwest Wisconsin and
east central, north central and northeast Minnesota.
* WHEN...From late Sunday night through late Monday night.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on difficult travel conditions,
including during the evening commute on Monday. Significant
reductions in visibility are possible.
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.
The winter storm watch begins at midnight Sunday night in much of northwestern and north-central Minnesota:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
310 PM CST Sat Mar 3 2018
MNZ005-006-008-009-013>017-052115-
/O.EXA.KFGF.WS.A.0003.180305T0600Z-180306T1200Z/
Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington-
Red Lake-East Polk-North Clearwater-South Beltrami-
Including the cities of Roseau, Warroad, Greenbush, Baudette,
Newfolden, Middle River, Grygla, Red Lake, Redby, Ponemah,
Thief River Falls, Red Lake Falls, Fosston, Fertile, McIntosh,
Erskine, Bagley, Clearbrook, and Bemidji
310 PM CST Sat Mar 3 2018
...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH
LATE MONDAY NIGHT...
* WHAT...Heavy snow and mixed precipitation possible. Total snow
accumulations of 4 to 6 inches and ice accumulations of a light
glaze are possible.
* WHERE...Portions of north central and northwest Minnesota.
* WHEN...From late Sunday night through late Monday night.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on difficult travel conditions,
including during the evening commute on Monday. Winds gusting
as high as 40 mph could cause patchy blowing and drifting snow.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Winter Storm Watch means there is potential for significant
snow, sleet or ice accumulations that may impact travel. Continue
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.