Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News
Paul Huttner

Models: Twin Cities rides the edge of snow Saturday

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.

Why should this storm be any different?

Thursday's numerical forecast model solutions are coming into better alignment on Saturday's inbound storm. The latest trends favor a southern storm track that paints the heaviest snow zone in southern Minnesota. That puts the Twin Cities on the sketchy northern edge of the snow zone.

Let's start with the current winter storm watch zone that blankets southern Minnesota. Much of this area will likely be upgraded to a winter storm warning Friday.

11 29 wsw
Twin Cities NWS

Including the cities of Redwood Falls, New Ulm, St Peter,

Le Sueur, Faribault, Red Wing, St James, Mankato, Waseca,

Owatonna, Fairmont, Blue Earth, and Albert Lea

307 PM CST Thu Nov 29 2018

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING

THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...

* WHAT...Heavy snow and wintry mix possible. Potential for up to 8

inches of snow with icing under 1/10 of an inch. Winds could

gust as high as 35 mph.

* WHERE...Along and south of a line from Marshall, to St. Peter,

and Red Wing.

* WHEN...From Saturday morning through Sunday morning.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel could be very difficult,

especially along I-90 and along I-35 between the Twin Cities

and the Iowa border. Patchy blowing snow could significantly

reduce visibility.

Southern track trends

I had hoped for more forecast model consensus on storm track trends and that has happened. All major models now favor a southern solution that lays out the heaviest 4 to 8-inch snow zone across southern Minnesota. NOAA's GFS model is in that range, with just glancing lighter snow shot near the Twin Cities.

11 29 gg
NOAA GFS model via tropical tidbits.

Twin Cities: Snowfall gradient

Many models now place the northern edge of the snow right in the Twin Cities Saturday. That would produce another snowfall gradient across the Twin Cities. The notion of less snow in the north metro and more in the south seems solid. Check out the GFS, it lays out the cutoff zone right through the Twin Cities. You can see how a shift of just 30 miles north or south will make a big difference in snowfall totals.

11 29 ggss
NOAA GFS model snowfall totals via tropical tidbits.

Mostly 30s

We may get some sunny breaks Friday. That will help boost temps and I still think a few local bank thermometers in the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota will flash 40 Friday afternoon. Highs will be mostly in the 30s this weekend with colder air returning next week.

11 29 wwee
NOAA via Weather Bell.

Stay tuned as we tweak storm track and snowfall totals Friday.