Heavy snow for southern Minnesota today and tonight; metro area totals from 2″ to 5″ this afternoon into tonight
Here's a morning weather briefing on the winter storm.
Snow will spread through southern Minnesota this Saturday morning, and the snow will expand northward into the Twin Cities metro area during the afternoon. The metro area and southern Minnesota could also see some patchy freezing drizzle this morning. Snow continues this evening and tonight in much of the southern half of Minnesota into western Wisconsin.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern from this Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon:
Here's the NWS summary of expected snowfall:
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The Twin Cities metro area will ride the northern edge of the heaviest snow. The far south metro could end up with 4 to 6 inches of snow, while the far north metro only sees a couple of inches. It looks like Minneapolis and St. Paul will be in the mid-range of metro snowfall, with 2 to 4 inch totals by later tonight. Check forecast updates.
Warnings and advisories
Winter storm warnings are in effect across most of southern Minnesota today through noon on Sunday:
Winter weather advisories include most the Twin Cities metro area from noon today through noon on Sunday:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
350 AM CST Sat Dec 1 2018
...Heavy snow with strong winds to impact southern Minnesota into
west central Wisconsin today into Sunday morning...
.Accumulating snow will move into southern Minnesota by this
afternoon and lift north and east to central Minnesota and west
central Wisconsin during the afternoon. Snow, will be heaviest
during the afternoon, but will continue into Sunday morning.
Northeast winds gusting to 40 mph will also lead to blowing and
drifting snow.
The winter Storm Warning has been expanded across southern
Minnesota and is now in effect for locations along and south of a
Madelia to Red Wing line, where 5 to 10 inches of snow is
expected.
A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for locations along
and south of a Granite Falls, to Twin Cities, to Bloomer
Wisconsin line, where snowfall accumulations of 2 to 5 inches are
expected.
MNZ060-062-063-068>070-WIZ023>028-011800-
/O.CON.KMPX.WW.Y.0023.181201T1800Z-181202T1800Z/
Hennepin-Ramsey-Washington-Carver-Scott-Dakota-St. Croix-Pierce-
Dunn-Pepin-Chippewa-Eau Claire-
Including the cities of Minneapolis, St Paul, Stillwater, Chaska,
Shakopee, Hastings, Hudson, River Falls, Prescott, Menomonie,
Durand, Chippewa Falls, and Eau Claire
350 AM CST Sat Dec 1 2018
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO
NOON CST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5
inches expected. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.
* WHERE...Portions of west central Wisconsin and east central
Minnesota.
* WHEN...From noon today to noon CST Sunday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Patchy
blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.
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.
Here are details of the winter storm warning in south-central Minnesota:
MNZ077-083>085-093-011800-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WW.Y.0023.181201T1500Z-181202T1800Z/
/O.EXB.KMPX.WS.W.0010.181201T1800Z-181202T1800Z/
Rice-Blue Earth-Waseca-Steele-Freeborn-
Including the cities of Faribault, Mankato, Waseca, Owatonna,
and Albert Lea
350 AM CST Sat Dec 1 2018
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO NOON CST
SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 7
inches expected. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.
* WHERE...Rice, Blue Earth, Waseca, Steele and Freeborn Counties.
* WHEN...From noon today to noon CST Sunday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel will become difficult this afternoon
and tonight. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce
visibility.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather
conditions will make travel very hazardous or impossible. If you
must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your
vehicle in case of an emergency.
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.
You can check details of other warnings and advisories from the NWS offices in the Twin Cities, La Crosse, WI and Sioux Falls, SD.
As always, updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and you will also see updated weather info on the MPR News live weather blog.
This blog will be updated later this morning.
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.