Quiet weather Saturday; rain and snow arrive Sunday afternoon/evening

Portions of northern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin started out with dense fog and freezing fog Saturday morning.

Visibilities will improve by late morning. A passing morning flurry is possible in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Sunday/Monday snow or mix

A low-pressure system is expected to spread snow and rain into Minnesota and western Wisconsin Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening. The precipitation will continue overnight Sunday night and into Monday in many areas.

The heaviest snow is expected to be to the north:

Here’s a look at heavy snow potential in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin from Sunday evening into Monday :

The Twin Cities metro area may see a rain/snow mix late Sunday afternoon into Sunday night and Monday morning, with some periods of mainly snow. Snow accumulations will depend on how long we see mainly snow and how long it is a mix or rain. At this point it looks like the north metro will have the best chance of seeing an inch or two of snow from late Sunday into Monday morning.

Winter storm watch

A winter storm watch covers portions of central and northern Minnesota from Sunday afternoon into Monday afternoon:

Here are details of the winter storm watch that runs from 4 p.m. Sunday to 3 p.m. Monday in Alexandria, Princeton and Mora:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 330 AM CST Sat Mar 4 2023 MNZ041>045-041730- /O.NEW.KMPX.WS.A.0005.230305T2200Z-230306T2100Z/ Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec- Including the cities of Alexandria, Long Prairie, Little Falls, Princeton, and Mora 330 AM CST Sat Mar 4 2023 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Wet and heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 7 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. * WHERE...Douglas, Todd, Morrison, Mille Lacs and Kanabec Counties. * WHEN...From Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Slippery road conditions and reduced visibility from snow and blowing snow could impact the Monday morning commute. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The track of this system is still uncertain so please stay tuned to the forecast, especially if you have travel plans. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.

Here are details of the winter storm watch in Detroit Lakes and Park Rapids:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 344 AM CST Sat Mar 4 2023 MNZ022>024-027-028-030>032-040-062100- /O.EXB.KFGF.WS.A.0003.230306T0000Z-230306T2100Z/ Mahnomen-South Clearwater-Hubbard-West Becker-East Becker- West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant- Including the cities of Mahnomen, Naytahwaush, Waubun, Alida, Ebro, Lake Itasca, Long Lost Lake, Lower Rice Lake, Roy Lake, Upper Rice Lake, Park Rapids, Detroit Lakes, Wolf Lake, Fergus Falls, Perham, New York Mills, Parkers Prairie, Henning, Battle Lake, Wadena, Menahga, Elbow Lake, Hoffman, Ashby, Herman, and Barrett 344 AM CST Sat Mar 4 2023 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Heavy snow and blowing snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 7 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. * WHERE...Portions of central, north central, northwest and west central Minnesota. * WHEN...From Sunday evening through Monday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.

The winter storm watch begins at 9 a.m. Sunday in Moorhead, Minnesota.

A winter storm watch begins Sunday evening in parts of northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin:

Here are watch details:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Duluth MN 336 AM CST Sat Mar 4 2023 MNZ020-037-WIZ001>004-042145- /O.NEW.KDLH.WS.A.0003.230306T0000Z-230307T0000Z/ Southern Lake-Carlton and South St. Louis-Douglas-Bayfield- Ashland-Iron- Including the cities of Two Harbors, Silver Bay, Duluth, Superior, Washburn, Bayfield, Ashland, and Hurley 336 AM CST Sat Mar 4 2023 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. * WHERE...In Minnesota, Southern Lake and Carlton and South St. Louis Counties. In Wisconsin, Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland and Iron Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the northwestern area of the Lac du Flambeau Band, the Fond du Lac Band, the Bad River Reservation and the Red Cliff Band. * WHEN...From Sunday evening through Monday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The track of this system is still uncertain which will affect snow amounts, so please stay tuned to the forecast. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.

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.

Update

A new Updraft will be posted around 10:30 this morning. It will include 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.