Sunday snow; warmer temps this coming week
We're ready for Spring.
The snowflakes that you see on Sunday will melt as temperatures warm up during the coming week.
The details
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Snow will move into west-central and southwestern Minnesota early Sunday morning, then spread eastward.
Snow is expected to reach eastern Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro area early Sunday afternoon. Periods of snow will continue through Sunday evening over about the southern two-thirds of Minnesota.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential snow pattern Sunday through Monday morning:
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.
Here are the snow totals that are generated by the NAM forecast model:
The Twin Cities metro area could see an inch or so of snow by late Sunday afternoon, then another inch or two Sunday evening. Total snow accumulations between two and three inches are possible in the metro area by the time the snow ends, especially on grassy areas. The far northeast part of the metro area could see around one inch of snow.
Higher snow totals are expected in west-central Minnesota and much of southern Minnesota.
Here's the National Weather Service snow forecast for Sunday through Sunday night:
Advisories
Winter weather advisories begin in west-central and southwestern Minnesota at 7 a.m. Sunday.
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.
Here are the counties (shaded blue/purple) included in the Sunday and Sunday night winter weather advisories:
Details of the southwestern Minnesota advisory:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
253 PM CDT Sat Apr 7 2018
IAZ003-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-080400-
/O.UPG.KFSD.WS.A.0008.180408T1200Z-180409T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KFSD.WW.Y.0018.180408T1200Z-180409T1200Z/
Dickinson-Lincoln MN-Lyon MN-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson-
Pipestone-
253 PM CDT Sat Apr 7 2018
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM SUNDAY TO 7 AM CDT
MONDAY...
* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches.
Light freezing drizzle is possible Sunday night.
* WHERE...Portions of northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota.
* WHEN...From 7 AM Sunday 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.
And details of the advisory for west-central Minnesota:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
243 PM CDT Sat Apr 7 2018
...MORE SNOW ON SUNDAY BUT AMOUNTS ARE LOWER...
.A winter weather advisory has been issued for portions of west
central, southwest and south central Minnesota on Sunday and
Sunday night. The winter storm watch has been cancelled.
The winter weather advisory is mainly west of a line from
Glenwood, to Willmar, Gaylord, and Owatonna.
Snow is expected to develop in far western Minnesota toward
sunrise Sunday. 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 2 to 5
inches, with locally higher amounts along the Buffalo Ridge. Most
of the accumulating snowfall will occur on bare ground, with
mainly wet roadways until the late afternoon and evening. By the
late afternoon and early evening, area roads will become icy,
especially untreated roads.
MNZ047-054>057-064-065-080400-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WS.A.0008.180408T1200Z-180409T0600Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.WW.Y.0017.180408T1200Z-180409T1200Z/
Stevens-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-Yellow Medicine-
Renville-
Including the cities of Morris, Madison, Benson, Montevideo,
Willmar, Granite Falls, and Olivia
243 PM CDT Sat Apr 7 2018
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM SUNDAY TO 7 AM CDT
MONDAY...
* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches
are expected.
* WHERE...Portions of central and west central Minnesota.
* WHEN...From 7 AM Sunday to 7 AM CDT Monday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Expect
reduced visibilities at times.
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.
And south-central Minnesota advisory details:
MNZ067-075-082>084-091>093-080400-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WS.A.0008.180408T1200Z-180409T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.WW.Y.0017.180408T1800Z-180409T1200Z/
Sibley-Nicollet-Watonwan-Blue Earth-Waseca-Martin-Faribault-
Freeborn-
Including the cities of Gaylord, St Peter, St James, Mankato,
Waseca, Fairmont, Blue Earth, and Albert Lea
243 PM CDT Sat Apr 7 2018
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM SUNDAY TO 7 AM CDT
MONDAY...
* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 5 inches
are expected.
* WHERE...Portions of central and south central Minnesota.
* WHEN...From 1 PM Sunday to 7 AM CDT Monday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Expect
reduced visibilities at times.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of snow, sleet or
freezing rain will cause travel difficulties. Expect 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.
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.
Temperature trends
Most of Minnesota should see Sunday highs in the lower 30s:
Twin Cities metro area highs this coming week are expected to reach the upper 30s on Monday, followed by lower 40s Tuesday, upper 40s Wednesday.
We could be close to 50 degrees on Thursday, followed by mid to 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.