Top 3 snow on the way? Big winter storm develops Tuesday

Updated 10:55 a.m.

A prolonged period of significant snowfall begins Tuesday afternoon into Thursday night. Several or more inches of snow will fall into early Wednesday with another round of even more snow developing late Wednesday into Thursday night.

Two rounds of potentially record snowfall

Winter storm warnings are in effect for much of south-central Minnesota, including the Twin Cities for a long duration major winter storm. There are also blizzard warnings Wednesday and Thursday as high winds increase along with the snow.

Expect snow showers to develop late morning in western Minnesota and spread east through the afternoon Tuesday.

Some of the heaviest snowfall rates with this first round will be during the evening commute in the Twin Cities with up to one-half inch to 1 inch per hour rates. Most accumulation from the first round will wrap up by early to midmorning Wednesday.

We’re in somewhat of a break Wednesday with lighter snow showers midday before the second round of more significant and heaviest snowfalls. Snowfall rates will pick up again late Wednesday afternoon and remain heavy into midday Thursday.

With the second round of snow we can anticipate even heavier totals of up to a foot or more Wednesday night into early Thursday.

In addition to the snow, gusty winds develop Wednesday into Thursday upwards of 50 mph in southwestern Minnesota and 40 mph in eastern Minnesota. This will create blizzard conditions in south-central and western Minnesota Wednesday afternoon into Thursday.

The final storm totals over the three days will come in at potentially record-setting values.

For reference, here are the top snowfalls since 1884 in the Twin Cities. We could easily see a snowfall in the top three if the forecast pans out.

Behind the snow will follow a brief period of cold with subzero temperatures early Friday morning.

Email us photos and video clips of the joy and pain from the storm to tell@mpr.org.