Snow, wind and cold: Winter storm watches and warnings Thursday night into Saturday

Snow, wind and cold will hit much of Minnesota and Wisconsin Friday into Saturday. I’ll have details on the weekend storm after a quick mention of the heavy snow that’s impacting northeastern Minnesota today.

Several inches of snow are expected Thursday into Thursday evening in Lake County and Cook County in northeastern Minnesota.

A winter storm warning covers Lake County and Cook County through Thursday afternoon and into Thursday night.

Cook County and most of Lake County have a winter storm warning until 3 a.m. Friday, but far southern Lake County has a winter storm warning until 9 p.m. Thursday.

Here are details of the winter storm warning in southern Cook County:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Duluth MN 1111 AM CST Thu Jan 11 2024 MNZ021-120515- /O.UPG.KDLH.WW.Y.0003.000000T0000Z-240112T0600Z/ /O.EXB.KDLH.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-240112T0900Z/ Southern Cook- Including the city of Grand Marais 1111 AM CST Thu Jan 11 2024 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM CST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Heavy lake effect snow. Additional snow accumulations of 2 to 7 inches. * WHERE...Southern Cook County. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Grand Portage Reservation. * WHEN...Until 3 AM CST Friday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the evening commute. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The greatest snow totals will be found in the higher elevation areas from Eagle Mountain and Devil Track Lake southwestward to the Lake County line. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin.

Winter storm Friday into early Saturday

A powerful low pressure system is expected to deliver several inches of snow to much of southern Minnesota, the Twin Cities metro area and Wisconsin Friday into Saturday. The snow begins Thursday night in far southern Minnesota.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale Forecast System model shows the potential precipitation pattern from 11 p.m. Thursday through noon on Saturday:

Here’s the NWS snow forecast through noon on Saturday:

The southeastern part of the Twin Cities metro area could see heavier snow totals than the far northwestern corner of the metro area. Check forecast updates, since a shift of even 40 miles in the storm track will shift the heavier snow totals.

Warnings and watches

Winter storm warnings have been posted for southern Minnesota from Thursday night into Saturday morning.

Here are details of the winter storm warning in southeastern Minnesota and portions of Iowa:

IAZ008>010-018-019-029-MNZ079-086>088-094-095-120200- /O.CON.KARX.WS.W.0002.240112T0600Z-240113T1500Z/ Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-Wabasha-Dodge- Olmsted-Winona-Mower-Fillmore- Including the cities of Osage, Cresco, Decorah, Charles City, New Hampton, Oelwein, Wabasha, Dodge Center, Rochester, Winona, Austin, and Preston 1147 AM CST Thu Jan 11 2024 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM CST SATURDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Portions of north central and northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota. * WHEN...From midnight tonight to 9 AM CST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. In Iowa, visit 511ia.org for road conditions. In Minnesota, visit 511mn.org for road conditions.

The winter storm warning in parts of southwestern Minnesota starts at 6 p.m. Thursday and runs to midnight Friday night. The winter storm warning in south-central Minnesota starts at 10 p.m. Thursday and runs to 6 a.m. Saturday.

A winter storm watch includes the Twin Cities metro area from late Thursday night through 6 a.m. Saturday. Here are details of the watch:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 1110 AM CST Thu Jan 11 2024 MNZ053-060>063-068>070-120115- /O.CON.KMPX.WS.A.0001.240112T0800Z-240113T1200Z/ Chisago-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-Carver-Scott-Dakota- Including the cities of Center City, Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater, Chanhassen, Chaska, Victoria, Shakopee, and Hastings 1110 AM CST Thu Jan 11 2024 ...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Steady snow Friday through Friday night with total snow accumulations of 4 to 6 inches possible. * WHERE...Portions of east central Minnesota. * WHEN...From late tonight through late Friday night. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero will develop and could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the MPR News network. 

Updated forecast information will be posted by the National Weather Service offices in the Twin Cities, Duluth, La Crosse, Wis. and Sioux Falls, S.D..

Windy and very cold this weekend

A strong low pressure system will ramp up our winds on Friday with strong winds continuing through the weekend. Temperatures will plummet this weekend.

Friday high temps will range from the single digits in western Minnesota to lower 20s in the east.

Saturday morning low temperatures will be below zero in western and northern Minnesota and slightly above zero in much of eastern Minnesota.

Wind chill temperatures at 6 a.m. Saturday will be around 30 below zero in western Minnesota, with single digits below zero in the Twin Cities.

Saturday high temperatures will be slightly below zero in parts of western Minnesota, with single digits and lower teens above zero in the east.

Sunday morning low temperatures will be subzero in western Minnesota and between 5 below zero and 10 below zero in the Twin Cities metro area.

Wind chill temperatures at 6 a.m. Sunday will be in the 40s below zero in parts of western Minnesota, with 30s below zero across much of eastern Minnesota.

Sunday highs will be below zero across most of Minnesota.

Your warmest coat and mittens will be appropriate attire this weekend.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.