Justin Liles: Major snow storm heading our way
Tonight, will be a clear and cold night with temperatures in the single digits. Saturday will be the calm before the storm with little wind and sunshine. The Winter Storm will roll into southern Minnesota Saturday night and work its way northward to be here in the Northland starting Sunday morning. On Sunday, a large low emerges out of the Colorado Rockies and takes aim in the upper Midwest. A messy spring storm will impact the Midwest Sunday through Tuesday.
Accumulating snow, wintry mix, rain, and strong winds will affect the area. The heaviest precipitation is expected Sunday through Monday, and some lake enhanced precipitation is possible. Terrible travel conditions and winter storm impacts are likely. Exact snowfall amounts and the locations of the heaviest amounts are not yet known and are expected to change, but many parts of Northland have a 70% chance of 12″ or more of snow. Monitor the forecast for updates and stay aware for possible travel impacts.
TONIGHT
Mostly clear, with a low around 6. Blustery, with a north wind 10 to 15 mph.
SATURDAY
Sunny, with a high near 30. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
SUNDAY
Snow, mainly after 8am. Patchy blowing snow after 2pm. High near 29. Breezy, with an east wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Increasing winds and heavy snow with a low around 27. Breezy, with an east wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 5 to 9 inches possible.
MONDAY
Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Widespread blowing snow, mainly before 8am. High near 32. Windy, with an east wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
MONDAY NIGHT
Snow. Areas of blowing snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Windy, with a northeast wind 25 to 30 mph decreasing to 20 to 25 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph.
TUESDAY
Snow before 2pm, then rain and snow likely. Patchy blowing snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
WEDNESDAY
A chance of snow, mainly before 8am. Patchy blowing snow after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 28. Breezy, with a west wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
THURSDAY
Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
FRIDAY
A slight chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 37. Breezy, with a northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.