Snowy south today, get ready for the big melt

What could be winter's last gasp is tracking across southern Minnesota and Iowa today. Snow, sleet, freezing rain and thunder are reported in northern Iowa. Winter storm warnings include the southern tier of counties in Minnesota.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

258 AM CDT Wed Apr 18 2018

...ACCUMULATING SNOW LIKELY FOR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA TODAY...

.Another round of snow is expected across southern Minnesota

Wednesday. The heaviest snow will occur over far southern

Minnesota with 5 to 7 inches expected over far southern Minnesota

adjacent to the Iowa border. Snowfall rates of an inch per hour

are possible in this area this morning into the early afternoon

hours. Generally 3 to 5 inches of snow are expected a tier north

of the Interstate 90 corridor. The snow is expected to diminish

this afternoon through this evening.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect through this evening for

Martin, Faribault and Freeborn counties. A Winter Weather Advisory

is in effect through this evening for Watonwan, Blue Earth, Waseca

and Steele counties.

Heavy snow south, Twin Cities brushed

Most of the significant snow will stay south of the Twin Cities today. I'm not hearing many complaints about that.

Deep snow south

It's interesting to note recent snowfall patterns have dumped most of the snow in southern Minnesota. Parts of northwest Minnesota are already snow-free.

Warming trend kicks in tomorrow

Warmer air begins to push in tomorrow. Highs push well into the 50s this weekend to near 60 degrees by Monday. Many forecast models suggest the numbers below could be conservative.

Pattern change ahead

The upper air maps for next week into early May finally look mild.

Both the European and American models crank out a string of 60s, with a shot at 70 degrees in the next two weeks.

Stay tuned!