A few more inches of snow; chilly winds as we shovel and plow

The snow isn't over, but snow amounts will be much lighter today in most of Minnesota.

Yesterday's official snow total at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was 11.1 inches, which gaves us an official Twin Cities storm total of 12.2 inches, with more snow on the way.

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Update:  another seven- tenths of an inch at MSP through 7 a.m. today:

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We'll add about 3 to 5 inches to that metro area storm total before the snow ends tonight.

Higher snow amounts in the 6 to 9 inch range are expected over parts of northeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Periods of snow

Minnesota and Wisconsin will see additional snow today as the storm system pulls slowly away.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential snow pattern today through Monday morning:

The color chart to the right of the loop refers to the strength of the signal that returns to the radar, not to the amount of snow.

Warnings and advisories

The Twin Cities metro area and much of Minnesota are in a winter weather advisory until 10 p.m. this Sunday evening:

Details of the winter weather advisory for the Twin Cities:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

343 AM CDT Sun Apr 15 2018

...HISTORIC WINTER STORM WINDING DOWN TODAY...

.Snow and wind have been diminishing across southern Minnesota and

west central Wisconsin this morning. However, the slow movement

of the weather system will continue light snow and gusty northerly

winds over the area today. The Blizzard Warning has been

cancelled and replaced with a Winter Weather Advisory for much of

central and southern Minnesota today into this evening. A general

2 to 5 inches of additional snowfall will occur in the advisory

area. The gusty northerly winds will continue to cause

considerable blowing and drifting snow.

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for a small part of east

central Minnesota and all of west central Wisconsin through 10

PM. Snowfall from 5 to 9 inches is expected to occur today and

linger into the evening before ending.

MNZ059>063-068>070-076>078-151645-

/O.CAN.KMPX.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-180415T1200Z/

/O.EXB.KMPX.WW.Y.0018.000000T0000Z-180416T0300Z/

Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-Carver-Scott-Dakota-

Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-

Including the cities of Monticello, Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul,

Stillwater, Chaska, Shakopee, Hastings, Le Sueur, Faribault,

and Red Wing

343 AM CDT Sun Apr 15 2018

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS

EVENING...

...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

* WHAT...Snow. Additional snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches are

expected.

* WHERE...Portions of central, east central, south central and

southeast Minnesota.

* WHEN...Until 10 PM CDT this evening.

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

Winds gusting as high as 35 mph will cause patchy blowing and

drifting snow.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means periods of snow will

cause primarily travel difficulties. Expect snow covered roads

and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving. 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.

Details of the winter storm warning in western and northwestern Wisconsin and Isanti and Chicago counties and points north:

MNZ052-053-WIZ014>016-025>028-151645-

/O.EXT.KMPX.WS.W.0008.000000T0000Z-180416T0300Z/

Isanti-Chisago-Polk-Barron-Rusk-Dunn-Pepin-Chippewa-Eau Claire-

Including the cities of Cambridge, Center City, Osceola,

Rice Lake, Ladysmith, Menomonie, Durand, Chippewa Falls,

and Eau Claire

343 AM CDT Sun Apr 15 2018

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS

EVENING...

* WHAT...Heavy snow. Additional snow accumulations of 6 to 9

inches are expected.

* WHERE...Portions of northwest and west central Wisconsin and

east central Minnesota.

* WHEN...Until 10 PM CDT this evening.

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

Winds gusting as high as 35 mph will cause patchy blowing and

drifting snow.

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.

A few counties in southeastern Minnesota are included in a winter storm warning until 7 p.m.:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service La Crosse WI

750 AM CDT Sun Apr 15 2018

...Wintry Weather Continues Today into This Evening...

.A strong and complex spring storm system will continue to bring

periods of snow to the area today into this evening. As of 745

am, snowfall continued to increase across areas along and west of

interstate 94. Many visibilities in the snow were in the 1/2 to 3

mile range. New snow totals since 5 am have generally been 1/4 to

1 inch. Road conditions continue to be reported as snow/ice

covered and slippery across southeast Minnesota, much of Wisconsin

and northeast Iowa. Travel is not advised on some roads in

western into central Wisconsin.

The steadier, more widespread snow will continue to spread across

the area this morning, with accumulations of an inch or two for

many locations through noon.

By the time the snow ends this evening, additional accumulations

of 4 to 8 inches are expected north and east of La Crosse, with

the highest amounts across north-central Wisconsin. South and

west of La Crosse, additional snow amounts of 2 to 4 inches are

expected.

Along with the wintry precipitation, northeast to north winds

gusting 30 to 35 mph through today will produce areas of blowing

and drifting snow, further reducing visibilities at times.

MNZ088-096-WIZ041>044-053-152100-

/O.CON.KARX.WS.W.0008.000000T0000Z-180416T0000Z/

Winona-Houston-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-Vernon-

Including the cities of Winona, Caledonia, La Crosse, Sparta,

Tomah, Mauston, Friendship, and Viroqua

750 AM CDT Sun Apr 15 2018

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS

EVENING...

* WHAT...Heavy snow and blowing snow. Additional snow

accumulations of 3 to 5 inches are expected.

* WHERE...Portions of central, southwest and west central

Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota.

* WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT this evening.

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

Winds gusting as high as 30 mph will cause areas of blowing

and drifting snow.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning for snow and blowing 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 the state you are calling from can be

obtained by calling 5 1 1.

Winter storm warnings for heavy snow and poor travel conditions include the city of Duluth and much of the north shore:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Duluth MN

326 AM CDT Sun Apr 15 2018

...HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS ACROSS NORTHWEST WISCONSIN AND

PORTIONS OF MINNESOTA THROUGH TONIGHT...

.An early spring storm system continues to affect the region early

this morning and will continue to do so through tonight,

impacting all of northwest Wisconsin and parts of northeast and

east central Minnesota. Area radars this morning showed several

bands of light to moderate snow moving through the region. Snow

coverage and intensity will increase this morning and afternoon.

Snowfall rates could exceed an inch per hour at times today,

especially in northwest Wisconsin. In addition, low visibility is

expected because of strong northeast winds that will accompany the

falling snow. The wind will continue to be strong, especially

around Lake Superior. The wind and snow will combine to produce

blizzard conditions, mainly through the evening, in parts of

northwest Wisconsin from Superior east towards Bayfield and Ashland,

resulting in near impossible travel conditions.

MNZ037-152200-

/O.CON.KDLH.WS.W.0012.000000T0000Z-180416T1200Z/

Carlton/South St. Louis-

Including the city of Duluth

326 AM CDT Sun Apr 15 2018

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT MONDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy snow and blowing snow. Additional snow

accumulations of 6 to 9 inches, with localized amounts up to

11 inches, are expected.

* WHERE...Carlton/South St. Louis County.

* WHEN...Until 7 AM CDT Monday.

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

gusting as high as 45 mph will cause patchy blowing and

drifting snow.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning for snow and blowing 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 511 in either state.

Updates

Updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and you can also find updated weather information on the MPR news live weather blog.

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

Snow amounts

Snow amounts were in the 10 to 16 inch range around the Twin Cities metro area through Saturday evening, and updated totals will be coming in this morning.

The NWS interactive snowfall map allows you to see the location and time of snow measurements. It’s zoomable for more detail.  Snow reports are also relayed in text form as they come in.

Snowiest April

Until this storm, April of 1983 was the snowiest April in Twin Cities weather records:

Through Saturday, our Twin Cities April snowfall was 22.5 inches:

So there's that, and our final April tally will be higher.

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.