Snow this afternoon and evening; a nice warming trend this week
It seems strange to be talking about snow on April 8, but here we go.
At least we'll see a lot of our snow cover melt during the coming week.
The details
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Snow spreads into west-central and southwestern Minnesota this Sunday morning, and expands into eastern Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro area during the early afternoon hours.
Snow continues in much of the southern half of Minnesota this evening.
The Twin Cities metro area could see one to three inches of snow accumulation on grassy areas by the time it ends later this evening, with the highest amounts in the southwest metro. Some slushy roads are possible later this afternoon and this evening.
Higher snowfall amounts are expected in southwestern Minnesota and parts of west-central and south-central Minnesota.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential snow pattern today through Monday morning:
Here are the snow totals that are generated by the NAM forecast model:
The National Weather Service snow forecast shows highest snow totals to the southwest:
Advisories
The NWS has issued winter weather advisories for the shaded counties:
Winter weather advisories begin in west-central and southwestern Minnesota at 7 a.m. Sunday, and end at 7 a.m. Monday.
Winter weather advisories begin at 1 p.m. Sunday from just to the west of the Twin Cities metro area through Mankato and Albert Lea, then over to Rochester. Those advisories also end at 7 a.m. Monday.
Details of the southwestern Minnesota advisory:
Winter Weather Advisory
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
346 AM CDT Sun Apr 8 2018
MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-098-081700-
/O.CON.KFSD.WW.Y.0018.180408T1200Z-180409T1200Z/
Lincoln MN-Lyon MN-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson-Pipestone-
Rock-
346 AM CDT Sun Apr 8 2018
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS
MORNING TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY...
* WHAT...Moderate snow and light mixed precipitation expected.
Total snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches and ice accumulations
of a light glaze are expected.
* WHERE...Portions of southwest Minnesota.
* WHEN...From 7 AM this morning to 7 AM CDT Monday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on difficult travel conditions.
Winds gusting as high as 35 mph will cause patchy blowing and
drifting snow.
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.
The west-central Minnesota advisory:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
320 AM CDT Sun Apr 8 2018
...ANOTHER ROUND OF SNOW TODAY...
.A Winter Weather Advisory continues for portions of west central,
southwest, and south central Minnesota for today into tonight,
mainly southwest of a line from Glenwood, to Willmar, Gaylord,
and Owatonna.
Snow will develop over far western Minnesota shortly after sunrise.
This area of snow will expand east across the rest of Minnesota
during the day, before tapering off Sunday night. Snowfall amounts
in the advisory area will range from 3 to 5 inches.
MNZ047-048-054>057-064-065-073-074-081630-
/O.CON.KMPX.WW.Y.0017.180408T1200Z-180409T1200Z/
Stevens-Pope-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-
Yellow Medicine-Renville-Redwood-Brown-
Including the cities of Morris, Glenwood, Madison, Benson,
Montevideo, Willmar, Granite Falls, Olivia, Redwood Falls,
and New Ulm
320 AM CDT Sun Apr 8 2018
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS
MORNING TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY...
* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5
inches are expected.
* WHERE...Portions of central, south central, southwest and west
central Minnesota.
* WHEN...From 7 AM this morning to 7 AM CDT Monday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on slippery road conditions. In
addition, some reductions to visibility are likely. Winds
gusting as high as 30 mph will cause patchy blowing and
drifting snow.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means periods of snow will
cause primarily travel difficulties. Expect 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.
Details of the south-central Minnesota advisory:
McLeod-Sibley-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Watonwan-Blue Earth-Waseca-Steele-
Martin-Faribault-Freeborn-
Including the cities of Hutchinson, Gaylord, St Peter, Le Sueur,
St James, Mankato, Waseca, Owatonna, Fairmont, Blue Earth,
and Albert Lea
320 AM CDT Sun Apr 8 2018
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY...
* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5
inches are expected.
* WHERE...Portions of central and south central Minnesota.
* WHEN...From 1 PM this afternoon to 7 AM CDT Monday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on slippery road conditions. In
addition, some reductions to visibility are likely. Winds
gusting as high as 30 mph will cause patchy blowing and
drifting snow.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means periods of snow will
cause primarily travel difficulties. Expect 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.
Updates
Updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network , and you can see weather updates on the MPR news live weather blog.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation will have updated road conditions.
Temperature trends
Most of Minnesota should see highs in the lower 30s this Sunday afternoon, with some upper 20s in the southwest.
Monday highs will be in the mid to upper 30s in many areas:
Twin Cities metro area highs are expected to reach the upper 30s Monday, followed by lower 40s on Tuesday. The metro area could top out around 50 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by upper 40s on Friday
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.