Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Next winter storm targets central Minnesota Thursday

Snowfall totals could reach 5 to 9 inches in parts of central Minnesota.

The morning after a big snowstorm
A proud snowperson stands sentinel the morning after the first big snow in St. Paul on Wednesday.
Kathryn Styer Martinez | MPR News

Lather, rinse, repeat.

An active jet stream over Minnesota is dealing wintry storms our way every two to three days this week. Our next wintry-weather-maker arrives Thursday. This one focuses on central Minnesota.

This time the favored winter storm zone lays out across central and northeast Minnesota north and west of the Twin Cities.

Winter storm on the way Thursday
Winter storm on the way Thursday
Twin Cities National Weather Service

The latest model runs from midday Wednesday suggest the snow zone may shift a little more south than the graphic above. That could mean some minor accumulations favoring the northern half of the Twin Cities. But the bulk of the heaviest snow zone lays out across central Minnesota.

The European model cranks out a swath of between 5 and 9 inches across central and northeast Minnesota Thursday. It should be noted that some forecast models suggest higher snowfall totals to 10 inches or more are possible in this zone.

European model (ECMWF) snowfall output
European model (ECMWF) snowfall output by Friday
ECMWF via pivotal weather

NOAA’s GFS model favors a wintry mix for the Twin Cities Thursday that could include snow, sleet, ice and rain.

NOAA GFS model forecast for 1 pm Thursday
NOAA GFS model forecast for 1 p.m. Thursday
NOAA via tropical tidbits

Stay tuned as we tweak forecasts through tonight.