A few more inches of snow; chilly winds as we shovel and plow
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
The snow isn't over, but snow amounts will be much lighter today in most of Minnesota.
Yesterday's official snow total at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was 11.1 inches, which gaves us an official Twin Cities storm total of 12.2 inches, with more snow on the way.
______________________________________________________________________________
Update: another seven- tenths of an inch at MSP through 7 a.m. today:
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
______________________________________________________________________________
We'll add about 3 to 5 inches to that metro area storm total before the snow ends tonight.
Higher snow amounts in the 6 to 9 inch range are expected over parts of northeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
Periods of snow
Minnesota and Wisconsin will see additional snow today as the storm system pulls slowly away.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential snow pattern today 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.
Warnings and advisories
The Twin Cities metro area and much of Minnesota are in a winter weather advisory until 10 p.m. this Sunday evening:
Details of the winter weather advisory for the Twin Cities:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
343 AM CDT Sun Apr 15 2018
...HISTORIC WINTER STORM WINDING DOWN TODAY...
.Snow and wind have been diminishing across southern Minnesota and
west central Wisconsin this morning. However, the slow movement
of the weather system will continue light snow and gusty northerly
winds over the area today. The Blizzard Warning has been
cancelled and replaced with a Winter Weather Advisory for much of
central and southern Minnesota today into this evening. A general
2 to 5 inches of additional snowfall will occur in the advisory
area. The gusty northerly winds will continue to cause
considerable blowing and drifting snow.
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for a small part of east
central Minnesota and all of west central Wisconsin through 10
PM. Snowfall from 5 to 9 inches is expected to occur today and
linger into the evening before ending.
MNZ059>063-068>070-076>078-151645-
/O.CAN.KMPX.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-180415T1200Z/
/O.EXB.KMPX.WW.Y.0018.000000T0000Z-180416T0300Z/
Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-Carver-Scott-Dakota-
Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-
Including the cities of Monticello, Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul,
Stillwater, Chaska, Shakopee, Hastings, Le Sueur, Faribault,
and Red Wing
343 AM CDT Sun Apr 15 2018
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS
EVENING...
...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...
* WHAT...Snow. Additional snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches are
expected.
* WHERE...Portions of central, east central, south central and
southeast Minnesota.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM CDT this evening.
* 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 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.
Details of the winter storm warning in western and northwestern Wisconsin and Isanti and Chicago counties and points north:
MNZ052-053-WIZ014>016-025>028-151645-
/O.EXT.KMPX.WS.W.0008.000000T0000Z-180416T0300Z/
Isanti-Chisago-Polk-Barron-Rusk-Dunn-Pepin-Chippewa-Eau Claire-
Including the cities of Cambridge, Center City, Osceola,
Rice Lake, Ladysmith, Menomonie, Durand, Chippewa Falls,
and Eau Claire
343 AM CDT Sun Apr 15 2018
...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...Heavy snow. Additional snow accumulations of 6 to 9
inches are expected.
* WHERE...Portions of northwest and west central Wisconsin and
east central Minnesota.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM CDT this evening.
* 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 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.
A few counties in southeastern Minnesota are included in a winter storm warning until 7 p.m.:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
750 AM CDT Sun Apr 15 2018
...Wintry Weather Continues Today into This Evening...
.A strong and complex spring storm system will continue to bring
periods of snow to the area today into this evening. As of 745
am, snowfall continued to increase across areas along and west of
interstate 94. Many visibilities in the snow were in the 1/2 to 3
mile range. New snow totals since 5 am have generally been 1/4 to
1 inch. Road conditions continue to be reported as snow/ice
covered and slippery across southeast Minnesota, much of Wisconsin
and northeast Iowa. Travel is not advised on some roads in
western into central Wisconsin.
The steadier, more widespread snow will continue to spread across
the area this morning, with accumulations of an inch or two for
many locations through noon.
By the time the snow ends this evening, additional accumulations
of 4 to 8 inches are expected north and east of La Crosse, with
the highest amounts across north-central Wisconsin. South and
west of La Crosse, additional snow amounts of 2 to 4 inches are
expected.
Along with the wintry precipitation, northeast to north winds
gusting 30 to 35 mph through today will produce areas of blowing
and drifting snow, further reducing visibilities at times.
MNZ088-096-WIZ041>044-053-152100-
/O.CON.KARX.WS.W.0008.000000T0000Z-180416T0000Z/
Winona-Houston-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-Vernon-
Including the cities of Winona, Caledonia, La Crosse, Sparta,
Tomah, Mauston, Friendship, and Viroqua
750 AM CDT Sun Apr 15 2018
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...Heavy snow and blowing snow. Additional snow
accumulations of 3 to 5 inches are expected.
* WHERE...Portions of central, southwest and west central
Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota.
* WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT this evening.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on difficult travel conditions.
Winds gusting as high as 30 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 the state you are calling from can be
obtained by calling 5 1 1.
Winter storm warnings for heavy snow and poor travel conditions include the city of Duluth and much of the north shore:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Duluth MN
326 AM CDT Sun Apr 15 2018
...HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS ACROSS NORTHWEST WISCONSIN AND
PORTIONS OF MINNESOTA THROUGH TONIGHT...
.An early spring storm system continues to affect the region early
this morning and will continue to do so through tonight,
impacting all of northwest Wisconsin and parts of northeast and
east central Minnesota. Area radars this morning showed several
bands of light to moderate snow moving through the region. Snow
coverage and intensity will increase this morning and afternoon.
Snowfall rates could exceed an inch per hour at times today,
especially in northwest Wisconsin. In addition, low visibility is
expected because of strong northeast winds that will accompany the
falling snow. The wind will continue to be strong, especially
around Lake Superior. The wind and snow will combine to produce
blizzard conditions, mainly through the evening, in parts of
northwest Wisconsin from Superior east towards Bayfield and Ashland,
resulting in near impossible travel conditions.
MNZ037-152200-
/O.CON.KDLH.WS.W.0012.000000T0000Z-180416T1200Z/
Carlton/South St. Louis-
Including the city of Duluth
326 AM CDT Sun Apr 15 2018
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT MONDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy snow and blowing snow. Additional snow
accumulations of 6 to 9 inches, with localized amounts up to
11 inches, are expected.
* WHERE...Carlton/South St. Louis County.
* WHEN...Until 7 AM CDT Monday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on difficult travel conditions. Winds
gusting as high as 45 mph will cause patchy 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 511 in either state.
Updates
Updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and you can also find updated weather information on the MPR news live weather blog.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will have road condition updates.
Snow amounts
Snow amounts were in the 10 to 16 inch range around the Twin Cities metro area through Saturday evening, and updated totals will be coming in this morning.
The NWS interactive snowfall map allows you to see the location and time of snow measurements. It’s zoomable for more detail. Snow reports are also relayed in text form as they come in.
Snowiest April
Until this storm, April of 1983 was the snowiest April in Twin Cities weather records:
Through Saturday, our Twin Cities April snowfall was 22.5 inches:
So there's that, and our final April tally will be higher.
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.