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Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News
Paul Huttner

Storm Intensifies Through Christmas Day

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Twin Cities NWS weather story highlights increasing storm intensity.

The 2009 Christmas Mega Storm has saved its best punch for Christmas Day.

As twin low pressure system merge and "phase" over Iowa and Minnesota, storm intensity is increasing. The heaviest bouts of snow, freezing rain, sleet and wind are expected through Christmas Day.

Here is what we can expect:

-Winds will continue to increase. Winds will gust from 20 to over 30 mph in much of Minnesota. The lightest winds will be near the storm center in southeast Minnesota. The strongest winds will be in western and northern Minnesota and along the North Shore. Winds gusting to 40 to 50 mph can be expected along the North Shore. Blizzard conditions can be expected.

-As the powerful low pressure center approaches, snow intensity will peak Christmas Day. Snowfall rates of 1" or more per hour are possible at times in heavy snow bands.

-Temperatures will drop to near 0 in western Minnesota. Wind chills will plummet below zero.

-I am sticking with a range of 12" to 18" for the metro for storm total snowfall at this point. If the west metro remains all snow, there could be some totals over 20". I still think the mixed precip will reduce overall amounts in the east metro, but at least a foot is likely.

-I still think the heaviest band of snow will run from near Redwood Falls to Willmar, St. Cloud, and Brainerd then up to Duluth and the North Shore. These areas could see 15" to 20" with some isolated 25" to 30" totals possible.

Regardless of eventual snowfall totals, this is still a dangerous storm. Hopefully you are able to sit back and enjoy the holiday weekend and the storm conditions from inside your favorite weather window.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good snowstorm!

PH

-College of Du Page IR satellite loop

-MN hourly observations

-Twin Cities NWS forecast discussion

-Twin Cities Radar loop

-Duluth NWS