Winter storm warning begins Monday morning in Twin Cities metro area

We melted some of our snowcover this weekend, but more snow is on the way.

A rain/snow mix early Monday in the Twin Cities metro area is expected to change to all snow at some point Monday morning and the snow will continue through the afternoon and into Monday night.

• The snow is expected to be heavy at times, and 5 to 9 inches could accumulate in the metro area by Tuesday morning.

• The heaviest snow in the metro area is expected to fall Monday afternoon and evening.

• Snow will begin earlier on Monday in parts of central and northern Minnesota.

Winter storm warnings are in effect Monday and Monday night for the Twin Cities metro area and much of Minnesota:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

310 PM CST Sun Mar 4 2018

...HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT...

.A winter storm warning is in effect from northwest Minnesota

through southeast Minnesota and west central Wisconsin from Monday

morning through Tuesday morning. A winter weather advisory

is in effect for surrounding locations where less snow is

expected.

Rain will change over to heavy snow Monday morning. The highest

snow totals are expected in the Cambridge, Princeton, and Mora

region. In addition, northeast winds gusting to 40 mph will lead

to some blowing and drifting snow. Given the possibility of high

snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour, we anticipate very

difficult travel across the area on Monday. At this point the

worst travel conditions are expected Monday afternoon and evening.

There is still some uncertainty on when the precipitation will

change to snow and when the heaviest snow will occur. It is

possible that the Monday morning commute could also be

significantly impacted by wintry weather, so check for forecast

updates and plan accordingly.

MNZ042>045-049>053-058>063-066-068>070-078-WIZ014-015-023>026-

050515-

/O.UPG.KMPX.WS.A.0004.180305T1200Z-180306T1200Z/

/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.W.0004.180305T1200Z-180306T1200Z/

Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stearns-Benton-Sherburne-Isanti-

Chisago-Meeker-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-McLeod-

Carver-Scott-Dakota-Goodhue-Polk-Barron-St. Croix-Pierce-Dunn-

Pepin-

Including the cities of Long Prairie, Little Falls, Princeton,

Mora, St Cloud, Foley, Elk River, Cambridge, Center City,

Litchfield, Monticello, Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater,

Hutchinson, Chaska, Shakopee, Hastings, Red Wing, Osceola,

Rice Lake, Hudson, River Falls, Prescott, Menomonie, and Durand

310 PM CST Sun Mar 4 2018

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM MONDAY TO 6 AM CST

TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected and strong wind. Total snow

accumulations of 5 to 9 inches expected, with localized amounts

up to 10 inches. Minor ice accumulations are possible.

* WHERE...Portions of northwest and west central Wisconsin and

central, east central and southeast Minnesota.

* WHEN...From 6 AM Monday to 6 AM CST Tuesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on difficult travel conditions,

including during the evening commute on Monday. A few isolated

power outages are possible. Be prepared for significant

reductions in visibility at times.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning means significant amounts of snow will

make travel very hazardous or impossible. Strong winds are also

expected. 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.

Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories also cover northwestern Minnesota, and run from 6 a.m. Monday to 9 a.m. Tuesday:

Details of the warnings in northwestern Minnesota:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Grand Forks ND

258 PM CST Sun Mar 4 2018

MNZ002-003-022>024-027>032-NDZ039-049-052-053-061500-

/O.UPG.KFGF.WS.A.0003.180305T1200Z-180306T1200Z/

/O.NEW.KFGF.WS.W.0004.180305T1200Z-180306T1500Z/

Norman-Clay-Mahnomen-South Clearwater-Hubbard-West Becker-

East Becker-Wilkin-West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Cass-

Ransom-Sargent-Richland-

Including the cities of Ada, Twin Valley, Halstad, Moorhead,

Mahnomen, Naytahwaush, Waubun, Alida, Ebro, Lake Itasca,

Long Lost Lake, Lower Rice Lake, Roy Lake, Upper Rice Lake,

Park Rapids, Detroit Lakes, Wolf Lake, Breckenridge,

Fergus Falls, Perham, New York Mills, Parkers Prairie, Henning,

Battle Lake, Wadena, Menahga, Fargo, Lisbon, Enderlin, Gwinner,

Milnor, Forman, Rutland, and Wahpeton

258 PM CST Sun Mar 4 2018

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM MONDAY TO 9 AM CST

TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Total snow accumulations of 6 inches or more and light

ice accumulations are expected. Some blowing and drifting snow

is possible in open areas.

* WHERE...Portions of central, north central, northwest and west

central Minnesota and southeast North Dakota.

* WHEN...From 6 AM Monday to 9 AM CST Tuesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on difficult travel conditions,

including during the evening commute on Monday. Winds gusting

as high as 40 mph will cause areas of blowing and drifting

snow.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning means significant amounts of snow, sleet

and ice will make travel very hazardous or impossible. The latest

road conditions for the state you are calling from can be

obtained by calling 5 1 1.

Parts of northeastern Minnesota are also in warnings and advisories, starting early Monday:

A winter storm warning for snow and freezing rain starts at 3 a.m. Monday in the Brainerd and Hinckley areas and runs to 9 a.m. Tuesday:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Duluth MN

309 PM CST Sun Mar 4 2018

...FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING...

.A complex storm system will bring a period of freezing rain and

snow to the Northland tonight through Tuesday morning. Portions of

central Minnesota east into Burnett County have the best chance of

receiving more than 8 inches of snow. Freezing rain is possible

from western Itasca County south into the Brainerd Lakes region

with ice accumulation up to one-tenth of an inch possible. The

combination of snow and freezing rain will create snow covered and

slippery roads, which will slow the evening commute Monday and the

morning commute Tuesday. This is a very dynamic system and future

forecast updates may move the area of heaviest precipitation and

adjust amounts.

MNZ033-034-036-038-WIZ006-050915-

/O.UPG.KDLH.WS.A.0006.180305T0900Z-180306T1200Z/

/O.NEW.KDLH.WS.W.0008.180305T0900Z-180306T1500Z/

South Cass-Crow Wing-South Aitkin-Pine-Burnett-

Including the cities of Pine River, Brainerd, Aitkin, Pine City,

Hinckley, and Grantsburg

309 PM CST Sun Mar 4 2018

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM MONDAY TO 9 AM CST

TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Light, to occasionally moderate, snow and light freezing

rain are expected. Snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches, with

localized amounts up to 10 inches, and ice accumulations of up

to one tenth are expected.

* WHERE...In Wisconsin, Burnett County. In Minnesota, South Cass,

Crow Wing, South Aitkin and Pine Counties.

* WHEN...From 3 AM Monday to 9 AM CST Tuesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan for snow and ice accumulation to make

travel difficult, including during the evening commute on Monday

and the morning commute on Tuesday. Visibility of one-half mile

or less are possible at times.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning means significant amounts of snow, sleet

and ice will make travel dangerous due to snow and ice

accumulation on roads, making travel dangerous. Keep up with the

latest road conditions for Minnesota at 511mn.org, and for

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

______________________________________________________________________________

5 p.m. Update

A NWS summary of the Monday and Monday night winter storm:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern from Sunday evening through Tuesday:

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 snow or rain.

The timing of the changeover from rain or a rain/snow mix to all snow will have a big influence on our total snow amounts.

A range of 5 to 8 inches for the Twin Cities metro area by around midnight Monday night seems like a reasonable first estimate, with the highest amounts in the far north metro and the lowest amounts in the south metro.

Snow or a mix could affect the morning commute in the metro area, and the late afternoon/evening commute is likely to be slow due to slippery roads and low visibilities.

The morning and evening commutes are both expected to be slow in much of central and northern Minnesota.

Check forecast updates on Monday.

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Updates

Updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and you can read about weather updates on the MPR News live weather blog.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will post road condition updates.

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.