Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Part 2: Additional snow ahead Wednesday

Mixed ice overnight, then light to moderate snowfall most of Wednesday will add up.

Snowfall projection
Snowfall projection.
NOAA

Part 1 of this week’s winter storm delivered as scheduled Tuesday.

Now we watch as part 2 develops and brings a mixture of light ice overnight, with more snow through the day on Wednesday. NOAA’s HRRR model shows the likely progression of mixed ice (red) and mostly light snow (blue) across Minnesota between 6 p.m. Tuesday and 6 p.m. Wednesday.

NOAA HRRR model
NOAA HRRR model between 6 pm Tuesday and 6 pm Wednesday.
NOAA via tropical tidbits

Additional snowfall Wednesday

The first wave of this storm drove an intense snowfall wave with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Two main factors determine snowfall accumulation. Snowfall rate, and snowfall duration. Tuesday’s intense burst dumped anywhere from 3 to 9 inches across our region in just a few hours.

Wednesday’s snowfall will be lighter, but longer in duration. That means another 2 to 6 inches could add up by the time we get to Thursday morning in many areas.

Here’s the wider snowfall picture for all of Minnesota.

Snowfall projection for Minnesota
Snowfall projection for Minnesota.
NOAA

Last storm for a while?

The forecast looks cool but dry Thursday through the weekend. Highs will mainly be in the teens north and 20s south for the next several days.

Forecast high temperatures Saturday
Forecast high temperatures Saturday.
NOAA

The forecast models look mainly dry through next week. So this could be our last storm for a while.

Next week also looks warmer. Highs in the 30s once again look likely next week.

NOAA GFS temperature forecast
NOAA GFS temperature forecast for Wednesday, January 11.
NOAA via pivotal weather

NOAA’s temperatures outlooks look warmer than average through 14 days.

NOAA 8 to 14-day temperature outlook
NOAA 8 to 14-day temperature outlook.
NOAA

Even NOAA’s week 3-4 temperature outlook favors above-average temperatures. After our brutally cold December, this could end up being a milder-than-average January for most of Minnesota.

NOAA week 3 and 4 temperature outlook
NOAA week 3 and 4 temperature outlook.
NOAA

Stay tuned.