Wintry mix Sunday night and Monday; highest snow accumulations northern Minnesota
It's officially Spring, but we're still talking about wintry weather.
Far northwestern Minnesota has seen snow this Sunday afternoon, and that area has a winter storm warning for heavy snow and blowing snow that expires at 10 p.m. this Sunday evening.
A wintry mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain is expected to spread across much of Minnesota Sunday night and linger through Monday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern from Sunday evening through Monday night:
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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.
Here's an overview of the snow and freezing rain potential, from the National Weather Service, with "tonight" referring to Sunday night:
In the Twin Cities metro area, a wintry mix is possible overnight Sunday night and Monday morning, followed by periods of rain Monday afternoon.
A few inches of snow are possible in parts of central Minnesota through northern Minnesota:
Advisories
The NWS has issued a winter weather advisory for southwestern Minnesota and parts of west-central Minnesota from 10 p.m. Sunday through Monday morning:
Details of the advisory:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
335 PM CDT Sun Mar 25 2018
...A MIX OF SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN EXPECTED TONIGHT ACROSS WESTERN
MINNESOTA...
.A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 10 pm this evening to
noon Monday for areas west of a line from Benson to Willmar and
Fairmont. A mixture of snow and freezing rain will develop late
this evening and continue through Monday morning before turning to
rain. Ice accumulations of a tenth of an inch and snow
accumulations up to 2 inches are expected which will create
hazardous travel conditions.
MNZ054>057-064-065-073-074-082-091-260445-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WW.Y.0013.180326T0300Z-180326T1700Z/
Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-Yellow Medicine-Renville-
Redwood-Brown-Watonwan-Martin-
Including the cities of Madison, Benson, Montevideo, Willmar,
Granite Falls, Olivia, Redwood Falls, New Ulm, St James,
and Fairmont
335 PM CDT Sun Mar 25 2018
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO
NOON CDT MONDAY...
* WHAT...Mixed precipitation expected. Total wet snow
accumulations of up to two inches and ice accumulations of up
to one tenth of an inch are expected.
* WHERE...Portions of central, south central, southwest and west
central Minnesota.
* WHEN...From 10 PM this evening to noon CDT Monday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The ice will result in difficult travel
conditions, including during the morning commute on Monday. Be
prepared for reduced visibilities at times.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of snow, sleet or
freezing rain will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for
slippery 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.
In parts of far southwestern Minnesota, the advisory runs from Sunday night through Monday evening:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
328 PM CDT Sun Mar 25 2018
MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-SDZ040-260430-
/O.NEW.KFSD.WW.Y.0016.180326T0300Z-180327T0600Z/
Lincoln MN-Lyon MN-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson-Pipestone-
Brookings-
328 PM CDT Sun Mar 25 2018
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO
1 AM CDT TUESDAY...
* WHAT...Mixed precipitation, including freezing rain, is
expected. Total wet snow accumulations of up to one inch and ice
accumulations of one tenth to one quarter of an inch are
expected.
* WHERE...Portions of east central South Dakota and southwest
Minnesota.
* WHEN...From 10 PM this evening to 1 AM CDT Tuesday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel will be dangerous, including during
the morning commute on Monday. Be prepared for reduced
visibilities at times.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of snow, sleet or
freezing rain will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for
slippery roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while
driving. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling
from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.
Updates
Updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and you can also see weather updates on the MPR news live weather blog.