Rain turns to snow Tuesday night
Colder air and wind; temps back in the 50s by early next week
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A messy spring storm is bringing rain that will turn to snow and high winds. It will be followed by cooler air before another big warmup.
Rain, snow, gusty winds on the way
We’ll have occasional scattered rain showers Tuesday across much of the state. In the Twin Cities, the wettest period looks to be later Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Rain turns to snow Tuesday morning in the northwest and across central Minnesota. Snow moves into the Twin Cities Tuesday evening, around 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and into southeastern Minnesota by midnight. Snow showers will wrap up by midday Wednesday.
Blizzard warnings, winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories are posted for late Tuesday into Wednesday for much of central and southern Minnesota into western Wisconsin.
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The blizzard conditions in south-central and southeastern Minnesota are of particular concern. Very heavy, wet snow, sticking to tree branches and power lines combined with wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph could cause power outages and low or no visibility Tuesday night.
The heaviest snowfall totals will be in southern and southeastern Minnesota into western and northern Wisconsin with a significant drop off in totals farther north and west of that area.
The tricky forecast will depend on the snow-to-water ratios. This will not be a dry, fluffy snow like we’re accustom to in mid winter.
Once the change from rain to snow occurs, snow will have to accumulate initially on warm, wet ground. With greater water content, the snow will have a heavier consistency.
If the transition to heavy snow is quick and drier, the image on the right side of the map below could be more representative of (higher) snow totals. If the snow is very wet and takes time sticking initially, the image on the left, which accounts for compacting and melting, could be more realistic.
That’s why we should be prepared for anywhere from 4 inches on the low end in the Twin Cities to as much as 8 or 9 inches on the high end with parts of southeastern Minnesota potentially approaching 6 to 10-plus inches.
We’ll also have increasing wind to contend with. Winds will gust as high as 50 to 60 mph in far southern Minnesota later Tuesday into early Wednesday.
Sustained wind speeds will be 15 to 30 mph from the northwest across the whole of southern Minnesota into the Twin Cities.
Look for some briefly cooler air for Wednesday and Thursday. Highs will be in the 30s across southern Minnesota Wednesday with 20s north.
Thursday will see a return to sunshine and highs near 40 in southern Minnesota. That will already cause some rapid melting of snow. Temperatures will be back in the 50s — possibly even the 60s — by early next week.
Links for more weather impacts, information
Here’s how to keep tabs on forecasts, travel conditions and flight updates.
Forecast updates
MPR News: Current weather conditions and radar
National Weather Service: Snowfall reports
Travel conditions
These state transportation departments offer live updates on road conditions and crashes:
For bus and light rail riders in the Twin Cities, Metro Transit offers weather-related updates on its Metro Transit and Metro Transit Alerts X accounts, as well as on its website.
Flight updates
If you’re planning to fly out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport or another airport around the region — or if you are expecting visitors to arrive by plane — airports offer flight status updates online: