Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Snowstorm rages in Wisconsin Tuesday. Springlike warmth late next week?

Highs in the 60s and 70s ahead late next week?

NOAA GFS model
Global Forecast System model between 1 p.m. Tuesday and 7 p.m. Wednesday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Tropical Tidbits

Minnesota may be winning or losing the weather lottery Tuesday night and Wednesday, depending on how you feel about snow in April.

A raging winter storm is dumping heavy snow across much of Wisconsin. Reports of thunder snow and 1-inch-per-hour snowfall rates are coming in from Madison, Wis., Tuesday afternoon.

Traffic camera near madison, Wisconsin
Traffic camera near Madison, Wis., Tuesday afternoon
Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Winter storm warnings cover most of Wisconsin. Up to a foot of snow is likely from near the Wisconsin Dells northeast to the Michigan border.

Snowfall projection for WI 2
Snowfall projection for Wisconsin
National Weather Service Milwaukee office

Be aware if you are planning any travel east into Wisconsin through Wednesday.

Eastern Minnesota snow

Heavy snow will also clip far southeastern Minnesota. A general area of 1 to 3 inches is likely around Rochester. But some heavier 3 to 6 inches snowfall totals could clip Houston County in the far southeastern corner of Minnesota.

Snowfall projection for southeast Minnesota
Snowfall projection for southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin
National Weather Service La Crosse, Wis.

Light snow will also fall in northeastern Minnesota.

Snowfall projection for northeast Minnesota
Snowfall projection for northeastern Minnesota
Duluth National Weather Service office

Windy Wednesday

Wednesday brings high winds behind the system across Minnesota.

Forecast wind gusts
Forecast wind gusts for 5 p.m. Wednesday
NOAA

Gale warnings are in effect for Lake Superior.

Chequamegon Bay-Bayfield to Oak Point WI- Port Wing to Sand Island WI-Sand Island to Bayfield WI-

351 PM CDT Tue Apr 2 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM CDT WEDNESDAY...

...GALE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 7 PM CDT WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...For the Small Craft Advisory, northeast winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 34 kt and waves 3 to 6 ft expected. For the Gale Warning, north winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt and waves 7 to 10 ft expected.

* WHERE...Chequamegon Bay-Bayfield to Oak Point WI, Port Wing to Sand Island WI and Sand Island to Bayfield WI.

WHEN...For the Small Craft Advisory, until 1 AM CDT Wednesday. For the Gale Warning, from 1 AM to 7 PM CDT Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Strong winds will cause hazardous waves which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.

Wind advisories are posted Wednesday for southern Minnesota including the greater Twin Cities area.

Including the cities of Blaine, Waseca, Rice Lake, St Paul, River Falls, Le Sueur, Gaylord, Menomonie, Granite Falls, Red Wing, Shakopee, Hastings, Fairmont, Chaska, Owatonna, St James, Blue Earth, Victoria, Redwood Falls, St Peter, Chippewa Falls, Montevideo, Albert Lea, Olivia, Ladysmith, Madison, Eau Claire, Hutchinson, Stillwater, Hudson, Durand, Chanhassen, Minneapolis, Mankato, Faribault, and New Ulm

203 PM CDT Tue Apr 2 2024

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 10 PM CDT WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...North winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected.

* WHERE...Portions of central, east central, south central, southeast, southwest, and west central Minnesota and northwest and west central Wisconsin.

* WHEN...From 1 AM to 10 PM CDT Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

Sunshine and milder temperatures return Friday and Saturday across our region.

Springy late next week?

Forecast models hint at much warmer air in our region by the weekend of April 13-14. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model is cranking out highs from the 60s well into the 70s across Minnesota.

NOAA GFS model Thursday and Friday
Global Forecast System model temperature outlook between April 12-14
NOAA, via Tropical Tidbits

Spring may be ready to bloom for real in about 10 days.

Stay tuned.