Light snow develops Wednesday, Saturday slop-storm?
The weather maps look more interesting this week. Two snow chances enter the forecast over the next 5 days. The appetizer arrives Wednesday as mainly light snow spreads eastward across Minnesota. The main course may arrive Saturday with a messy wintry mix and heavier snow potential. Let's elaborate.
Light snow Wednesday into Thursday
A weak to moderate low-pressure wave spins east into the Upper Midwest Wednesday. Snow and some mixed glaze spread in with the system. For the Twin Cities, the most favorable window for snow with an icy mix is between midday Wednesday through midday Thursday. The steadiest snow likely falls during the overnight hours Wednesday night.
Here's the Canadian GEM model.
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Couple inches
Our first system likely drops a widespread 1 to 2-inches across much of Minnesota. A few snowfall totals up to 3 inches are possible, especially just north of the Twin Cities and along the North Shore.
Here's a closer look at northern Minnesota via the Duluth NWS. Lake Superior moisture and topographical lift often enhance snowfall totals locally.
Milder temperatures
Temperatures moderate late this week. It's amazing how mild 40-degrees will feel to many by Friday afternoon.
Saturday slop-storm?
Big forecast model differences equal low confidence forecast. Saturday looks like one of those days. Most models spin up a stronger storm in the Upper Midwest this weekend. So far the American GFS model is the southern outlier. The GFS keeps the system precipitation in Iowa and far southern Minnesota.
But the usually trusty European model and the Canadian model paint heavier rain, sleet, and snow across much of Minnesota. This Canadian model output suggests a stalled storm with heavy precipitation potential over Minnesota this weekend.
If the Euro or Canadian solutions come to pass, there's going to be heavy snow somewhere a big chunk of Minnesota. This potential snowfall graphic comes with a "use at your own risk" warning label.
Let's see how Wednesday's model runs shake out.
Stay tuned.