Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

A quiet Tuesday before the next winter storm moves into Minnesota

Expect more snow over the weekend

snow chances
Chances of 6 and 9 inch snowfall amounts
National Weather Service

We have a dry, quiet Tuesday with seasonable temperatures for the most part. Northwestern Minnesota will be colder. A winter storm watch goes into effect late Thursday into early Friday with a winter weather advisory Tuesday night into Wednesday northwest.

Quiet Tuesday; Minnesota temps vary widely

Minnesota saw a nearly a 40-degree temperature difference early Tuesday morning from the northwest to the southeast.

MN lows
Low temperatures early Tuesday morning
National Weather Service

We’ll see high temperatures in the milder range; above freezing across eastern Minnesota but northwestern Minnesota will remain cooler and below normal with highs only in the teens.

Tue high 9
Forecast high temperatures Tuesday
National Weather Service

Next winter storm

A winter storm watch is already posted for the most significant round of snow late Thursday into early Friday. A winter weather advisory goes into effect Tuesday evening for northwestern Minnesota for the first round of lighter and broad snowfall.

watch warn
Winter storm watches and winter weather advisories
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Pivotal Weather

Tuesday night into early Thursday will bring snowfall to much of the western half of the state before that snow expands eastward. The main upper-level energy arrives late Thursday and that will increase the snowfall Thursday night into early Friday.

wed-thu precip 9
Forecast precipitation Tuesday night into Friday morning
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

The official snow total forecast from the National Weather Service looks to be on the high end to me personally. The highest totals are expected in southern Minnesota near Interstate 90.

MN snow 2
Forecast snowfall totals Wednesday through Friday
National Weather Service

Most computer model guidance is lower than the official forecast with pretty wide ranges and room for changes in the forecasts:

snow models
Several computer model output scenarios for Wednesday through Friday snowfall
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

More snow over the weekend

You’ll get one night of rest Friday night before more snow develops late Saturday into early Sunday. The weekend system doesn’t look nearly as significant but another plowable snow is looking likely.

sat night snow
Forecast precipitation late Saturday into Sunday morning
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, via Pivotal Weather