Big changes ahead include freezing temperatures, snowflakes
Winter storm warnings in NW Minn.; Twin Cities flakes possible Saturday
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You knew our balmy late fall weather couldn’t last forever.
A late fall storm is pumping much colder air into Minnesota this week. It’s also packing heavy snow through North Dakota and the northwest corner of Minnesota.
A winter storm warning remains in effect for far northwestern Minnesota until 7 a.m. Friday. Winter weather advisories are in effect just east of the warning zone (see the map above).
Here are the latest warning details:
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URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Grand Forks ND Issued by National Weather Service Duluth MN
151 PM CDT Thu Oct 26 2023
Including the cities of Hallock, Karlstad, Lancaster, Roseau, Warroad, Greenbush, Warren, Stephen, Argyle, Cando, Langdon, Fort Totten, Maddock, Leeds, Minnewaukan, Devils Lake, Grafton, Park River, Grand Forks, and Cooperstown
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT FRIDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy snow. Additional snow accumulations of 4 to 9 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.
* WHERE...Portions of northwest Minnesota and northeast and southeast North Dakota.
* WHEN...Until 7 AM CDT Friday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s NAM 3 km model has done a pretty good job of detailing snow and rainfall zones.
The loop below runs between 7 p.m. Thursday and 1 p.m. Friday. Note the snow zone in northwestern Minnesota while most of the state sees occasional rain showers.
Overall snowfall totals will land between 6 and 12 inches in the far northwestern corner of Minnesota. Areas just to the east will see a little less snow.
Windy and much colder Friday!
The biggest impact for all of Minnesota will be the sharp temperature plunge as the cold front sweeps across our state overnight. Friday brings gusty northwest winds and falling temperatures into the 30s.
Watch as NOAA’s NAM 3 km model below shows the last sweet remnants of milder air being swept away to the southeast and replaced by frigid temperatures in the 20s and 30s. The loop below runs between 7 p.m. Thursday and 7 p.m. Friday.
Highs Saturday and Sunday will hover in the 30s across most of Minnesota.
Saturday snowflakes?
There’s still a chance for some snow showers and flurries across southern Minnesota Saturday.
Most forecast models keep the bulk of the snow showers south of the Twin Cities, but a few show snow grazing the Twin Cities area Saturday afternoon and evening.
Here’s NOAA’s NAM 3 km model again between 1 p.m. Saturday and 1 a.m. Sunday:
A few models suggest a light coating of snowfall across southern Minnesota late Saturday.
Frosty Halloween
Halloween looks dry but frigid this year. Highs will remain in the 30s across most of Minnesota next Tuesday.
