Sabrina Ullman: Round one of snow begins late tonight

Light snow will enter the Northland late tonight, reaching Koochiching and Itasca Counties at around midnight. This system will move west to east, with northern Minnesota seeing snow by morning rush hour.

The snow will be widespread by 10 am and continue throughout the day, with higher snowfall rate in the afternoon and evening hours. This round will clear for the most part early Tuesday morning, with lake-effect snow continuing in the U.P. until around 3 pm Tuesday.

A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued, with a few different timings based on area. Koochiching, Itasca, Carlton, St. Louis, and Pine Counties will be under this advisory from midnight tonight until 6 pm Monday. Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Iron, Burnett, Washburn, Price, and Sawyer Counties will be under this advisory from 6 am to 9 pm Monday. A southeast wind will keep Lake and Cook Counties under this advisory from midnight tonight until 9 pm Monday.

Snowfall amounts will be 3-5 inches for most of the area, with 1-3 inches expected for areas south of Carlton County. Higher amounts are possible both along the North Shore and the U.P. portion of the South Shore.

This system will seem weak compared to what is in store for Wednesday and Thursday. The strongest of that round of snow will likely be towards the Twin Cities, but portions of northern Wisconsin could easily get 8-12 inches of snow later this week.

A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for the area stretching from Aitkin County to Iron County and south for this late-week storm. The Storm Track Weather Team will continue to monitor this storm closely and provide more updates.

Tonight

A chance of flurries before 2am, then a chance of snow, mainly after 4am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 7. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Washington’s Birthday

Snow, mainly before 5pm. High near 26. Blustery, with a southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Tuesday

Increasing clouds, with a high near 15. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.

Wednesday

A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly after noon. Patchy blowing snow after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 15. Windy, with a northeast wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

Thursday

Snow. Widespread blowing snow, mainly before 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 9. Windy, with a northeast wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 14. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Saturday

Partly sunny, with a high near 24. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 28. Breezy, with a west wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.