Winter storm and a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of Minnesota Friday?
Record warmth then rain, thunder, high winds and snow Friday into Saturday
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Talk about a weather smorgasbord. We could literally have a severe thunderstorm and winter storm watch and blizzard warning across different parts of Minnesota late Friday.
Our powerful inbound storm will produce springtime and wintry weather across Minnesota Friday evening through Saturday.
Record warmth looks likely with highs in the 70s across southern Minnesota Friday.
Severe risk Friday evening
An arcing line of thunderstorms will spin northward out of Iowa by around 6 p.m to 7 p.m. Friday evening.
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The most favored window for a little thunder, lighting and a few welcome downpours in the Twin Cities lies between about 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday.
The forecast model loop below runs between 6 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday. Watch the snow break out in western Minnesota and the eastern Dakotas.
The most likely zone for severe weather is across southern Minnesota. Storms will likely weaken as the run into more stable air and darkness across the Twin Cities. A marginal risk runs well north of the Twin Cites toward Duluth.
The cold and snow on the system’s backside by Saturday has prompted National Weather Service offices in the region to hoist winter storm watches for all of western Minnesota from the Red River Valley to the Iowa border.
Near-blizzard conditions are likely late Friday night through Saturday morning.
Here’s the detail on the winter storm watch for northwestern Minnesota, including the Red River Valley:
Including the cities of Radium, Bemidji, Lisbon, Ada, Staples Airport, Park Rapids, Ashby, Barrett, Long Lost Lake, Nary, Roseau, Backoo, Middle River, Hallock, Ebro, Grand Forks, Newfolden, Argyle, Gatzke, Crookston, Hadler, Redby, Detroit Lakes, Moorhead, Rosewood, Hoffman, Milnor, Twin Valley, Drayton, Fergus Falls, Fargo, Enderlin, Pencer, East Grand Forks, Salol, Lake Itasca, Valley City, Florian, Hatton, Hillsboro, Parkers Prairie, Malung, Naytahwaush, Warren, Baudette, Hope, Erdahl, Hayes Lake State Park, Lancaster, Walhalla, Halstad, Gwinner, Grygla, Red Lake, Rosby, Emmaville, Alida, Flaming, Menahga, Battle Lake, McLeod, Perham, Clearbrook, Mayville, Grafton, Espelie, Nash, Lawndale, Leroy, Thief River Falls, Wolf Lake, Forman, Stephen, Erskine, Bagley, Shoreham, Oakwood, Englund, Kelso, Fox, Park River, Portland, Breckenridge, Elbow Lake, Akra, Fosston, Herman, Hubbard, McIntosh, Waubun, Wadena, Roseville, Mahnomen, Lavinia, Finley, Karlstad, Upper Rice Lake, Dakota Junction, Henning, New York Mills, Ponemah, Faith, Lower Rice Lake, Red Lake Falls, Wahpeton, Bowesmont, Syre, Rutland, Cavalier, Fertile, Casperson, and Roy Lake 300 PM CDT Thu Mar 13
2025 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING...
* WHAT...Blizzard conditions possible. Total snow accumulations between 1 and 6 inches, with some locations as high as 8 inches. Ice accumulations between one one-hundredth and one tenth of an inch are possible. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph.
* WHERE...Portions of central, north central, northwest, and west central Minnesota and northeast and southeast North Dakota.
* WHEN...From late Friday night through Saturday evening.
* IMPACTS...Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow. Whiteout conditions are possible and may make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. *
ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A band of heavy snow will develop and drive where blizzard conditions will arise. Most people in the Winter Storm Watch area will not experience blizzard conditions or even potentially snowfall.
Here’s more detail for west-central Minnesota:
Including the cities of Morris, Benson, Montevideo, Granite Falls, Glenwood, Alexandria, and Madison 305 PM CDT Thu Mar 13 2025 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions possible. Total snow accumulations between 2 and 4 inches, sleet accumulations between one tenth and two tenths of an inch, and ice accumulations around a light glaze possible. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. * WHERE...Chippewa, Douglas, Lac Qui Parle, Pope, Stevens, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties. * WHEN...From late Friday night through Saturday evening. * IMPACTS...Whiteout conditions are possible and may make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. Plan on slippery road conditions. Strong winds could cause extensive damage to trees and power lines.
Little snow is expected in eastern Minnesota. Much colder temperature in the 20s and 30s will persists this weekend.