Snowstorm continues today through Sunday; heavy snow and strong winds
We're in this for a while.
The latest forecast model info shows that our snowstorm will linger in many areas well into Sunday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential snow pattern today through Sunday afternoon:
Because this is such a long duration snow event, with periods of heavy snow, the Twin Cities metro area could see an additional 8 to 14 inches of snow before it ends late Sunday, with the highest amounts expected on the southeast side of the metro area.
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Here are the National Weather Service forecast snow totals:
We might also hear some thunder and see lightning at times this afternoon in southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro area.
Parts of southeastern Minnesota will see some periods of freezing rain, in addition to the snow:
The strongest winds are expected to be over western Minnesota and parts of south-central Minnesota.
The blizzard warnings have been extended eastward, and now include counties just to the west of the 7 county Twin Cities metro area:
The Twin Cities metro area is in a winter storm warning today through 7 p.m. Sunday:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
343 AM CDT Sat Apr 14 2018
...MULTI-PHASED WINTER STORM CONTINUES ACROSS THE REGION...
...SNOWFALL RATES AROUND ONE INCH PER HOUR LIKELY THIS
AFTERNOON...
.The first round of precipitation is now diminishing and will
continue to do so through later this morning. The next, heavier
round of snow will move in to southern and eastern Minnesota and
western Wisconsin late this morning and continue through this
afternoon into this evening. Snowfall rates of around 1 inch per
hour can be expected through the afternoon hours. The snow will
taper down Saturday night, but light snow will continue into
Sunday.
A Blizzard Warning is in effect through Saturday evening for
portions of west central through south central Minnesota. A Winter
Storm Warning is in effect to the east of the Blizzard Warning,
including most of east central Minnesota, a portion of south
central Minnesota, and all of west central Wisconsin. A Winter
Weather Advisory is in effect for Morrison county Minnesota.
Total snow accumulations of 8 to 15 inches are expected through
Sunday from southwest Minnesota to east central Minnesota and
northern Wisconsin. Totals will taper off to 4 to 8 inches across
west central Minnesota. There will likely be a sharp gradient
north of the heavy snow band. In addition, additional ice
accumulation of around a tenth of an inch is possible in
southeastern Minnesota into southwestern Wisconsin.
MNZ049>053-059>063-068>070-076>078-084-085-093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
141700-
/O.EXT.KMPX.WS.W.0008.000000T0000Z-180416T0000Z/
Stearns-Benton-Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-
Ramsey-Washington-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-
Waseca-Steele-Freeborn-Polk-Barron-Rusk-St. Croix-Pierce-Dunn-
Pepin-Chippewa-Eau Claire-
Including the cities of St Cloud, Foley, Elk River, Cambridge,
Center City, Monticello, Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul,
Stillwater, Chaska, Shakopee, Hastings, Le Sueur, Faribault,
Red Wing, Waseca, Owatonna, Albert Lea, Osceola, Rice Lake,
Ladysmith, Hudson, River Falls, Prescott, Menomonie, Durand,
Chippewa Falls, and Eau Claire
343 AM CDT Sat Apr 14 2018
...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation. Additional snow
accumulations of 11 to 15 inches and ice accumulations of
around one tenth are expected.
* WHERE...Portions of northwest and west central Wisconsin and
central, east central, south central and southeast Minnesota.
* WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT Sunday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel will be very difficult to
impossible. Tree branches could fall. Winds gusting as high as
45 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. 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.
Details of the blizzard warning to the west and southwest:
MNZ058-066-067-075-083-092-141700-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WS.W.0008.000000T0000Z-180415T0600Z/
/O.EXA.KMPX.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-180415T0600Z/
Meeker-McLeod-Sibley-Nicollet-Blue Earth-Faribault-
Including the cities of Litchfield, Hutchinson, Gaylord,
St Peter, Mankato, and Blue Earth
343 AM CDT Sat Apr 14 2018
...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM CDT SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph
will cause whiteout conditions in blowing snow. Significant
drifting of the snow is likely. Additional snow accumulations
of 10 to 14 inches are expected.
* WHERE...Portions of central and south central Minnesota.
* WHEN...Until 1 AM CDT Sunday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel will be very dangerous to
impossible. Tree branches could fall.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions, making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If
you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get
stranded, stay with your vehicle. 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.
The blizzard warning in west-central and southwestern Minnesota:
MNZ047-048-054>057-064-065-073-074-082-091-141700-
/O.CON.KMPX.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-180415T0600Z/
Stevens-Pope-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-
Yellow Medicine-Renville-Redwood-Brown-Watonwan-Martin-
Including the cities of Morris, Glenwood, Madison, Benson,
Montevideo, Willmar, Granite Falls, Olivia, Redwood Falls,
New Ulm, St James, and Fairmont
343 AM CDT Sat Apr 14 2018
...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM CDT SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph
will cause whiteout conditions in blowing snow. Significant
drifting of the snow is likely. Additional snow accumulations
of 8 to 12 inches, with localized amounts up to 16 inches, are
expected.
* WHERE...Portions of central, south central, southwest and west
central Minnesota.
* WHEN...Until 1 AM CDT Sunday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel will be very dangerous to
impossible. Tree branches could fall.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions, making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If
you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get
stranded, stay with your vehicle. 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 also find updated weather information on the MPR news live weather blog.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation will have 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.