Plowable snow Saturday night; a quiet Sunday
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This is our second round of significant snow this week!
It's a welcome snowy stretch for cross-country skiers and people with sleds and snowboards, but it'll be dicey for drivers until the roads are cleared this weekend.
Much of Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin will see periods of heavy snow this Saturday evening.
Snow is expected to taper of by around 1 a.m. Sunday in the Twin Cities metro area, but it'll continue in parts of northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin into Sunday morning.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential snow pattern Saturday evening through Sunday morning:
The NAM model shows how snow accumulations increase Saturday evening into early Sunday:
Here's a NWS summary of the Saturday and Saturday night snow potential:
A closer look at northeastern Minnesota:
Warnings and advisories
Winter storm warnings continue overnight Saturday night for much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin:
Here are details of the winter storm warning that includes the Twin Cities metro area from Saturday evening through 6 a.m. Sunday:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
258 PM CST Sat Feb 24 2018
...HEAVY SNOW NOW UNDERWAY...SOME BLOWING SNOW EXPECTED
OVERNIGHT...
.A Winter Storm Warning is in effect tonight for areas east of a
line from Redwood Falls to St. Cloud, Minnesota except for Eau
Claire and Freeborn counties. A Winter Weather Advisory is in
effect for the remainder of the area.
Heavy snow with rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour will continue this
evening. Snowfall totals of 5 to 8 inches are likely. In addition,
northwest winds gusting to 30 to 35 mph late tonight will lead to
areas of blowing snow, especially across southern and eastern
Minnesota, and western Wisconsin. Travel will be very difficult
tonight.
MNZ050-051-058>063-066>070-076>078-084-085-WIZ023-024-026-250500-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.W.0003.180224T2100Z-180225T1200Z/
Benton-Sherburne-Meeker-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-
McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Waseca-
Steele-St. Croix-Pierce-Pepin-
Including the cities of Foley, Elk River, Litchfield, Monticello,
Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater, Hutchinson, Gaylord,
Chaska, Shakopee, Hastings, Le Sueur, Faribault, Red Wing,
Waseca, Owatonna, Hudson, River Falls, Prescott, and Durand
258 PM CST Sat Feb 24 2018
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy snow and blowing snow expected. Total snow
accumulations of 5 to 8 inches, with localized totals of 9
inches.
* WHERE...Portions of west central Wisconsin and central, east
central, south central and southeast Minnesota.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM CST Sunday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on difficult travel conditions.
Winds gusting as high as 35 mph will cause areas of blowing
and drifting snow.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Winter Storm Warning for snow and blowing 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.
And details of the winter storm warning that includes Duluth Saturday evening through 9 a.m. Sunday:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE...UPDATED
National Weather Service Duluth MN
347 PM CST Sat Feb 24 2018
...FAST-MOVING WINTER STORM TO BRING HEAVY SNOW TONIGHT AND
SUNDAY MORNING...
.Another winter storm will move rapidly across the Northland
region tonight and Sunday morning, bringing heavy snow to much of
northern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. A swath of heavy snow,
with accumulations anywhere from 6 to 12 inches is expected across
east-central Minnesota into the Minnesota Arrowhead, and across
much of northwest Wisconsin. Lesser snowfall totals from 2 to 5
inches are anticipated over north-central Minnesota. Locally
heavier amounts greater than a foot are possible along the north
shore of Lake Superior, where on shore winds could enhance heavy
snow overnight and Sunday morning. This storm will rapidly depart
the region Sunday morning, with snow ending by midday in most
locations.
MNZ035>038-WIZ001>004-006>009-251000-
/O.CON.KDLH.WS.W.0007.180225T0000Z-180225T1500Z/
Northern Aitkin-South Aitkin-Carlton/South St. Louis-Pine-Douglas-
Bayfield-Ashland-Iron-Burnett-Washburn-Sawyer-Price-
Including the cities of Hill City, Aitkin, Duluth, Pine City,
Hinckley, Superior, Washburn, Bayfield, Ashland, Hurley,
Grantsburg, Spooner, Hayward, and Phillips
347 PM CST Sat Feb 24 2018
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 10
inches.
* WHERE...Portions of north central and northwest Wisconsin and
east central and northeast Minnesota, including the interstate
35 corridor between Duluth and the Twin Cities.
* WHEN...Until 9 AM CST Sunday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on rapidly deteriorating road
conditions within an hour after snow begins, with very heavy
snowfall rates from late this evening into the overnight hours.
Travel will become very difficult by late evening due to a
combination of snow and ice covered roads, very low visibility,
and very heavy snowfall rates.
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 511 in either state.
Rochester and much of southeastern Minnesota are in a winter weather advisory until 6 a.m. Sunday:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
556 PM CST Sat Feb 24 2018
...Roads Becoming Snow, Ice Covered...
.Precipitation has spread from northeast Iowa and southeast
Minnesota into western Wisconsin at early evening. Most locations
can expect a 1 to 2 hour period of freezing rain or rain initially
before switching over to snow. Roads are becoming snow and ice
covered, quickly becoming slick and hazardous.
Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour in the heaviest snow is
possible. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 6 inches are expected.
A light glaze of ice is possible.
Road conditions will deteriorate as the evening wears on.
Consider adjusting your travel plans around the storm as travel
will be difficult to hazardous at times.
IAZ008-MNZ079-086-087-094-WIZ032-250800-
/O.CON.KARX.WW.Y.0010.000000T0000Z-180225T1200Z/
Mitchell-Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Mower-Buffalo-
Including the cities of Osage, Wabasha, Dodge Center, Rochester,
Austin, and Alma
556 PM CST Sat Feb 24 2018
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST
SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Snow. Light freezing rain possible. Snow accumulations of
3 to 6 inches and ice accumulations of a light glaze are
expected. The snow may be heavy at times this evening.
* WHERE...Portions of west central Wisconsin, north central Iowa
and southeast Minnesota.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM CST Sunday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on slippery road conditions. In
addition, some reductions to visibility are likely. Winds
gusting as high as 40 mph will cause patchy blowing and drifting
snow early Sunday morning.
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.
Updates
Updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and you can read about any watches and warnings in the MPR News live weather blog.
National Weather Service offices in the Twin Cities, Duluth and La Crosse, WI will have updated forecast details.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will post road condition updates.
Quiet Sunday
The daylight hours of Sunday should be quiet, with mild high temps:
Monday will be even milder, with highs in the 30s across most of Minnesota, and a few spots touching 40 degrees in the south:
Twin Cities highs are expected to be in the upper 30s most of this coming week, so some of our snow cover will melt.
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.