Gusty winds linger Saturday; roads still closed in parts of southern Minnesota

A strong low-pressure system in southeastern Canada continues to deliver gusty winds to Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Many roads in southwestern and south-central Minnesota remained closed (shaded red) Saturday morning:

Here’s the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s road update for south-central Minnesota.

Minnesota road conditions can be found here. Wisconsin road conditions can be found here.

Winter weather advisory

A winter weather advisory continues until noon Saturday in southwestern Minnesota and in portions of southeastern Minnesota, and until 3 p.m. in south-central Minnesota.

Southwestern and south-central Minnesota also have a wind chill warning, which becomes a wind chill advisory Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning:

Areas shaded light blue, including most of the Twin Cities metro, have a wind chill advisory from today into Sunday morning. Here are details of the advisories and warnings in south-central Minnesota:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 611 AM CST Sat Dec 24 2022 .Weather conditions have improved across the region compared to yesterday, but drifting snow will continue through the afternoon so have a Winter Weather Advisory across western and southern Minnesota. Meanwhile cold wind chills will continue through Sunday morning. MNZ067-075-076-083-084-092-093-242015- /O.CON.KMPX.WC.W.0005.000000T0000Z-221224T1800Z/ /O.CON.KMPX.WW.Y.0028.000000T0000Z-221224T2100Z/ /O.CON.KMPX.WC.Y.0022.221224T1800Z-221225T1600Z/ Sibley-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Blue Earth-Waseca-Faribault-Freeborn- Including the cities of Gaylord, St Peter, Le Sueur, Mankato, Waseca, Blue Earth, and Albert Lea 611 AM CST Sat Dec 24 2022 ...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY... ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON... ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 AM CST SUNDAY... * WHAT...For the Wind Chill Warning, dangerously cold wind chills. Wind chills as low as 35 below zero. For the Winter Weather Advisory, drifting snow expected. Winds gusting as high as 30 mph. For the Wind Chill Advisory, very cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 30 below zero. * WHERE...Portions of central and south central Minnesota. * WHEN...For the Wind Chill Warning, until noon CST today. For the Winter Weather Advisory, until 3 PM CST this afternoon. For the Wind Chill Advisory, from noon today to 10 AM CST Sunday. * IMPACTS...Drifting snow and dangerously cold wind chills will make it difficult to dig out from yestserday`s blizzard. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Please allow crews time to clear the roads. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin.

Northwestern Minnesota has a combination of wind chill warnings and advisories into early Sunday:

Northeastern Minnesota has a blizzard warning until 8 a.m. Sunday for Cook and Lake counties and winter weather advisories until midnight Saturday in the dark-blue shaded areas:

Here are details of the blizzard warning in northeastern Minnesota:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Duluth MN 605 AM CST Sat Dec 24 2022 MNZ012-020-021-250015- /O.CON.KDLH.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-221225T1400Z/ /O.CON.KDLH.WC.Y.0030.000000T0000Z-221225T1400Z/ Northern Cook and Lake-Southern Lake-Southern Cook- Including the cities of Isabella, Two Harbors, Silver Bay, and Grand Marais 605 AM CST Sat Dec 24 2022 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM CST SUNDAY... ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM CST SUNDAY... * WHAT...For the Blizzard Warning, blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations of up to one inch. Winds gusting as high as 60 mph. For the Wind Chill Advisory, very cold wind chills. Wind chills as low as 35 below zero. * WHERE...Northern Cook and Lake, Southern Lake and Southern Cook Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Grand Portage Reservation. * WHEN...Until 8 AM CST Sunday. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Strong winds could cause tree damage. The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin.

You can find updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the Minnesota Public Radio News network, and on the MPR News live weather blog.

Many people are traveling this holiday weekend. You can get forecast details for any spot in the United States by clicking on that location on the map that’s displayed here.

Saturday temps

Saturday highs will reach the single digits above zero in eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin, with subzero highs in western Minnesota:

A new Updraft will be posted around 11 this morning. It will include details on some new snow in portions of Minnesota and western Wisconsin Christmas afternoon and evening, plus a look at the week ahead.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.