2″ to 5″ of snow for metro area mid-afternoon into tonight, heavier snow southern Minn.
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Meteorological winter (December through February) begins today.
Right on cue, a snowstorm is moving into southern Minnesota this afternoon.
The big picture
Snow will spread from southern Minnesota into the Twin Cities metro area as we go through Saturday afternoon. Snow continues this evening and tonight in much of the southern half of Minnesota into western Wisconsin. A bit of lingering light snow is possible Sunday morning.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern from this Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon:
The NAM model keeps the highest snow totals over southern Minnesota:
A closer look
The Twin Cities metro area will ride the northern edge of the heaviest snow later this Saturday afternoon into Saturday night. The far southern part of the metro could end up with 4 to 6 inches of snow, while the far north metro (northern Anoka county) only sees an inch or two. It looks like Minneapolis and St. Paul will be in the mid-range of metro snowfall, with snow beginning by around mid-afternoon, and 2 to 4 inch totals possible by later tonight.
Far higher snow amounts are expected in southern Minnesota. Here’s the NWS summary of expected snowfall, plus a timeline:
Winter storm warnings are in effect across most of southern Minnesota from Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning:
Winter weather advisories include most the Twin Cities metro area (except Anoka county) from this afternoon through Sunday morning:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
945 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 and early evening, but will continue into
Sunday morning. Northeast winds gusting to 40 mph will also lead
to blowing and drifting snow.
The winter Storm Warning remains in effect for locations along
and south of a Madelia to Red Wing line, where 5 to 10 inches of
snow are 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>028-020000-
/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
945 AM CST Sat Dec 1 2018
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 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.
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.
The snow may not begin in the northern half of the metro area until about mid-afternoon.
Here are details of the winter storm warning that includes Mankato and points to the east and south of Mankato:
MNZ077-078-082>085-091>093-020000-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.W.0010.181201T1800Z-181202T1800Z/
Rice-Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth-Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-
Freeborn-
Including the cities of Faribault, Red Wing, St James, Mankato,
Waseca, Owatonna, Fairmont, Blue Earth, and Albert Lea
945 AM CST Sat Dec 1 2018
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 9
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.
Updated road conditions will be posted by the Minnesota and Wisconsin Transportation Departments.
Temperature trends
Most of southern and central Minnesota will see highs in the 30s Saturday afternoon, with some 20s in the north.
Sunday will feature a lot of highs in the 20s, with some lower 30s from the Twin Cities metro area into southeastern Minnesota:
The Twin Cities metro area will have chilly high temps in the 20s next Monday through Thursday.
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.