Snow and slippery roads Saturday evening into early Sunday; chilly week ahead
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The Minnesota Department of Transportation reported snow covered and slippery roads across much of southern Minnesota Saturday afternoon.
The snow moved into the southern part of the Twin Cities metro area during the early afternoon and spread northward, reaching Minneapolis and St. Paul around mid-afternoon:
It was a quick burst of 1 to 2 inches of snow in a little more than one hour in parts of the Twin Cities metro area, including St. Paul, and many metro area roads became slippery. Periods of snow are expected in the metro area Saturday evening and overnight Saturday night into early Sunday.
An observer in Eagan, Minnesota reported a snow total of 2.5 inches as of 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
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Waterville, in Le Sueur county of southern Minnesota, reported 5 inches of snow by late Saturday afternoon. Jackson, in southwestern Minnesota, measured 4 inches of snow.
The southern half of Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin can expect periods of snow Saturday evening and overnight Saturday night, with light snow showers possible Sunday morning.
You can check snow accumulations for Minnesota and western Wisconsin as they are posted by the NWS. Hover over a location on the NWS snow map to see the snow total and the time of observation.
Be careful out there, roads will be slippery.
Updated road conditions will be posted by the Minnesota and Wisconsin Transportation Departments.
Saturday evening into Sunday
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the precipitation pattern from this Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon:
The National Weather Service continues a winter storm warning Saturday evening through Sunday morning across much of southern Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin:
The winter storm warning warning area has the best chance of 6 or more inches of snow from this winter storm, and snow-covered and slippery roads are expected.
Here are details of the winter storm warning, which includes Mankato and points to the east and south of Mankato:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
554 PM CST Sat Dec 1 2018
...PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY MORNING...
...SOME FREEZING DRIZZLE COULD MIX IN ACROSS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
INTO WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...
.Periods of snow will continue over the southern third of
Minnesota and west central Wisconsin into Sunday morning.
Northeast winds gusting to 40 mph will also lead to areas of
blowing and drifting snow.
The Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for locations along
and south of a Madelia to Red Wing line, where 5 to 8 inches of
snow are expected.
A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for locations along
and south of a Granite Falls, to Twin Cities, to Bloomer
Wisconsin line, where snowfall accumulations of 3 to 5 inches are
expected.
MNZ077-078-082>085-091>093-020800-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.W.0010.000000T0000Z-181202T1800Z/
Rice-Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth-Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-
Freeborn-
Including the cities of Faribault, Red Wing, St James, Mankato,
Waseca, Owatonna, Fairmont, Blue Earth, and Albert Lea
554 PM CST Sat Dec 1 2018
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy snow, areas of blowing snow, and patchy freezing
drizzle are expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches
expected. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.
* WHERE...Rice, Blue Earth, Waseca, Steele and Freeborn Counties.
* WHEN...until noon CST Sunday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel will become difficult this
afternoon and tonight. Patchy blowing snow could significantly
reduce visibility.
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.
Most of the Twin Cities metro area is included in a winter weather advisory Saturday evening through Sunday morning due to snow and slippery roads:
MNZ060-062-063-068>070-WIZ023>028-020800-
/O.CON.KMPX.WW.Y.0023.000000T0000Z-181202T1800Z/
Hennepin-Ramsey-Washington-Carver-Scott-Dakota-St. Croix-Pierce-
Dunn-Pepin-Chippewa-Eau Claire-
Including the cities of Minneapolis, St Paul, Stillwater, Chaska,
Shakopee, Hastings, Hudson, River Falls, Prescott, Menomonie,
Durand, Chippewa Falls, and Eau Claire
554 PM CST Sat Dec 1 2018
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST
SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches
expected. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.
* WHERE...Portions of west central Wisconsin and east central
Minnesota.
* WHEN...until noon CST Sunday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Patchy
blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.
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.
You can check details of warnings and advisories from the NWS offices in the Twin Cities, La Crosse, WI and Sioux Falls, SD.
As always, updated weather information can be heard on the Minnesota Public Radio Network, and you will also see updated weather info on the MPR News live weather blog.
Temperature trends
Minnesota highs will be mostly in the 20s on Sunday, with some lower 30s in the Twin Cities metro area and points to the southeast.
Highs in the 20s will be common on Monday:
Our average high temp is 32 degrees this time of year in the Twin Cities.
We're expecting metro area highs in the low to mid 20s Tuesday through Thursday.
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.