Widespread heavy snow, falling visibilities

A large area of heavy snow continues to push its way northward from southern Minnesota across the Twin Cities metro area. The snowfall and strong winds have dropped area visibilities down to less than a quarter of a mile in many locations.

Mar 5 - radar
Weather radar shortly beforr 5 p.m. Monday. Twin Cities national Weather Service

Metro area temperatures have fallen below freezing and what was liquid on streets and sidewalks has frozen into slick ice. Snow is layering on top. Driving will be slow and hazardous during the entire evening commute.

Winter weather alerts into Tuesday

Winter storm warnings have been expanded to included most of Minnesota. They are in effect until 6 a.m.Tuesday for a band from northwestern Minnesota to the southeast corner including the entire Twin Cities metro area and also west central Wisconsin.

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They will remain in effect until 9 a.m. Tuesday in west-central Minnesota and until 6 p.m. for southwestern Minnesota where the wind will continue to cause wintry problems during the day.

Winter weather advisories continue in effect to the north, east and south of the winter storm warnings.

Mar 5 - Winter Storm warning
Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories in effect. National Weather Service

Snow will taper later tonight

Expect the snowfall to taper off later tonight and then end gradually from north to south tomorrow.

Snowfall totals

It looks like much of the state will see totals around 4 to 8 inches with some reports up to around a foot. The metro area should expect generally about 5 to 8 inches.

Greatest amounts should be north of the Twin Cities with about 6 to 10 or more inches from around Cambridge to Hinckley.

Remember that this is heavy, wet, difficult-to-shovel snow

Mar 5 - PM wx story
Forecast snowfalls from the Twin Cities National Weather Service

Temperatures looking ahead

Highs on Tuesday will be mostly in the low 30s statewide. Wednesday will be a bit cooler and then a gradual warming trend will kick in. The Twin Cities might see 40 degrees on Sunday.