Blizzard warnings in Northwest Minnesota, winter weather advisories across the state

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 are flying for a big chunk of the northeastern U.S. as a major winter storm winds up.

A potent low-pressure system will intensify as it winds up along the east coast Wednesday and Thursday. The system will produce heavy snow as you move inland, with rain and mixed precipitation closer to the coast.

The center of the low-pressure track will be critical in determining how much snow falls in locations like Philadelphia and New York City. A westward track will limit snowfall totals near the coast. A slight eastward nudge will bring heavier snow to places like New York City.

NOAA’s GFS model cranks out a foot of snow for many locations, with more than 2 feet of snow across parts of northeast Pennsylvania. 

The weather maps for Minnesota seem to be in flux for Christmas week. The week likely begins on mild notes. But there is a chance for snow by Wednesday in northern Minnesota, and possibly the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota.

The Canadian and European models paint a potential system by mid-week next week.

If the pattern evolves as I’m seeing today, that could bring a chance for snow followed by much colder air as we head toward Christmas. This far off view is beyond the range for high confidence, but the European model suggests temperatures hovering a few degrees either side of zero in the Twin Cities by Christmas morning. Temperatures on this outlook could hit minus 20 across northern Minnesota. 

We still may have a chance for a white (and frigid) Christmas in Minnesota.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

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