Plowable snow spreads across Minnesota today

If you live in the Twin Cities metro area, this would be a good day to get your errands done by early afternoon. A winter storm is moving toward us, and the snow begins around 3 p.m. in the metro area.

The snow begins by late morning in parts of southern and western Minnesota:

Snow will be heavy at times, and 5 to 7 inches are expected in the Twin Cities metro area by the time it tapers off around 1 a.m. Sunday:

Winter storm warnings are in effect today and tonight for much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin:

The winter storm warning begins at noon in southwestern and south-central Minnesota, and starts at 3 p.m. this Saturday afternoon in the Twin Cities metro area.

In the Duluth area, the winter storm warning begins at 6 p.m.

Here are details of the portion of the winter storm warning that includes the Twin Cities metro area:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

310 AM CST Sat Feb 24 2018

...HEAVY SNOW AND SOME BLOWING SNOW EXPECTED SATURDAY AFTERNOON

AND SATURDAY NIGHT...

.A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from this afternoon through

tonight for areas east of a line from Redwood Falls to St. Cloud,

Minnesota except for Eau Claire and Freeborn counties. A Winter

Weather Advisory is in effect for the remainder of the area.

Heavy snow with rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour will spread into

the area this afternoon or early evening. Given the expected

intensity, conditions will deteriorate rapidly following the onset

of the snow. Snowfall totals of 5 to 7 inches are likely across

the warned area with 3 to 5 inches expected in the advisory area.

In addition, northwest winds gusting to 30 mph late Saturday night

will lead to areas of blowing snow, especially across southern

and eastern Minnesota, and western Wisconsin. Travel could become

very difficult Saturday night through early Sunday.

MNZ050-051-058>063-066>070-076>078-084-085-WIZ023-024-026-241715-

/O.CON.KMPX.WS.W.0003.180224T2100Z-180225T1200Z/

Benton-Sherburne-Meeker-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-

McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Waseca-

Steele-St. Croix-Pierce-Pepin-

Including the cities of Foley, Elk River, Litchfield, Monticello,

Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater, Hutchinson, Gaylord,

Chaska, Shakopee, Hastings, Le Sueur, Faribault, Red Wing,

Waseca, Owatonna, Hudson, River Falls, Prescott, and Durand

310 AM CST Sat Feb 24 2018

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS

AFTERNOON TO 6 AM CST SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 7

inches are expected.

* WHERE...Portions of west central Wisconsin and central, east

central, south central and southeast Minnesota.

* WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 6 AM CST Sunday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on difficult travel conditions. Be

prepared for significant reductions in visibility at times.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather

conditions will make travel very hazardous or impossible. If you

must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your

vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for

Minnesota can be found at 511mn.org and for Wisconsin at

511wi.gov, or by calling 5 1 1 in either state.

Updates

Updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and you can read about any watches and warnings in the MPR News live weather blog.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will post road condition updates.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on Minnesota Public Radio at 7:49 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.