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Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News
Paul Huttner

Light snow fades; bigger snowfall ahead Sunday north of Twin Cities

1-2 inches likely in Twin Cities

Snow at the Weather Lab
A candy coating of snow is seen Thursday evening at the Weather Lab in the southwest Twin Cities.
Paul Huttner | MPR News

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Call it an entry-level snowfall.

Thursday’s fine misty snizzle left a candy coating on streets around the Twin Cities and much of Minnesota. It was just enough to slick up a few roads, intersections, ramps and bridges around the state. The snow band slides east of Minnesota by early Friday.

Here are a few select very light snowfall totals from Thursday’s minor league system:

  • Payne, St. Louis County, 1 inch

  • Chisholm, St. Louis County, nine-tenths of an inch

  • Pillager, Cass County, nine-tenths of an inch

  • Little Falls, Morrison County, eight-tenths of an inch

  • Grand Forks, N.D., one-half inch

  • Victoria, Carver County, one-half inch

We enjoy a quiet Friday across the Upper Midwest. Mixed sun and clouds will share the sky. Highs will be in the 20s south and teens north.

Forecast high temperatures Friday
Forecast high temperatures Friday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Sunday clipper

Our weekend clipper is a better-organized system. Snow will begin in the Red River Valley as early as midday Saturday. Snow will spread east through Saturday, likely not reaching the Twin Cities area until around or after midnight in the wee hours of Sunday.

The bulk of accumulating snow will occur on Sunday morning. Snow will taper from west to east Sunday afternoon.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s latest (18Z Thursday) model run shows the likely progression of the snow zone this weekend. The loop below runs between noon on Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday.

NOAA GFS model
Global Forecast System model between noon Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday
NOAA, via Tropical Tidbits

Thursday’s model runs show a more northward track trend for the surface low Sunday. That would mean heavier snow north of the Twin Cites Sunday, with the Twin Cities riding the less snowy edge.

NOAA’s Global Forecast System model snowfall output suggests a band of 6 inches plus is possible in the north. Much of central Minnesota would pick up 3 to 6 inches in this track scenario.

The Twin Cities would likely ride the edge of the 1 to 2-inch snowfall zone with less south of the Twin Cities.

NOAA GFS snowfall output
Global Forecast System snowfall output through Sunday.
NOAA, via Pivotal Weather

It’s still early so track forecasts may still change. If the track shifts back south, we could be looking at heavier snowfall totals around the greater Twin Cities.

Stay tuned.