Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Light snow south Wednesday; better snow chance Friday

Minnesota rides the northern edge of heavy snow across Iowa Wednesday

Snowfall projection
Snowfall projection Wednesday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

We’re tracking a major winter storm across the Midwest on Wednesday, but this one will deliver the heaviest snow bands from Nebraska across much of Iowa, southern Wisconsin, and northern Illinois.

The northern edge of the stream will clip southern Minnesota with some lighter snow. We may even see a coating as close as the southeast Twin Cities, especially toward Lakeville and Red Wing. (See the map above.)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s NAM 3 km model shows the snow shield ending as far north as the Twin Cities Wednesday with heavier snow to the south. The forecast model loop below runs between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday.

NOAA NAM 3 km model
North American Mesoscale 3 km model between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday
NOAA, via Tropical Tidbits

NOAA’s latest digital snowfall output suggests light accumulations are possible in the southeastern Twin Cities.

Farther south, it’s a full-blown major winter storm across much of Iowa. It will be the first real snow for many parts of Iowa this winter season.

Iowa snowfall projection
Iowa snowfall projection
Des Moines, Iowa, National Weather Service office

Temperatures remain cold this week with highs in the single digits to teens and subzero lows.

Forecast low temperatures Wednesday
Forecast low temperatures Wednesday
NOAA

Friday snow chance

Forecast models suggest another chance for snow across much of Minnesota Friday.

NOAA GFS model
Global Forecast System model between 6 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. Friday
NOAA, via Tropical Tidbits

The latest model runs have boosted potential snowfall totals from near the Twin Cities eastward. It’s still too early for high confidence in snowfall forecasts, but if current trends continue we could have another plowable snow Friday from the Twin Cities south and east.

Looks like the Twin Cities will be riding the snowy edge once again on Friday.

Stay tuned.