Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Winter storm watch north Sunday; lighter snow showers for Twin Cities

Expect several inches of snow Sunday across much of northern Minnesota

Winter storm watch
Winter storm watch Sunday
Duluth National Weather Service office

I always say March is more winter than spring in Minnesota. Boy, does that ring true this year.

A significant snow event is tracking for the northern third of Minnesota Sunday. A winter storm watch covers most of northeastern Minnesota Sunday (See the map above.)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Forecast System model is in line with the bulk of models that track the system across central and northern Minnesota Sunday. The forecast model loop below runs between 1 a.m. Sunday and 1 a.m. Monday.

NOAA GFS model
Global Forecast System model between 1 a.m. Sunday and 1 a.m. Monday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Tropical Tidbits

The system will bring widespread snowfall to the north. Lake Superior will get involved with additional moisture and terrain impacts enhancing snowfall totals along the North Shore.

Here’s the preliminary look at snowfall potential with this system.

Snowfall projection for Minnesota
Snowfall projection for Minnesota Sunday
NOAA

Before the storms, Saturday temperatures will be milder in the south and west but still wintry across northern Minnesota.

Forecast high temperatures Saturday
Forecast high temperatures Saturday
NOAA

There are signs of a warmup later next week. Temperatures in the 60s look likely to return to the south.

Forecast high temperatures Thursday
Forecast high temperatures Thursday
NOAA

A few models suggest 70s just south of the Twin Cities next Friday. There’s also a chance for thunderstorms next Friday evening.

European ECMWF model
European model forecast output for 7 p.m. Friday March 28
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, via Pivotal Weather

True spring and severe weather are coming slowly this year.

Stay tuned.