Massive winter storm coming into focus: Here’s the latest | News
Winter Storm Clock
Affected areas: Evade; Fillmore; Houston; Mower; Olmstedt; wabasha; Winona
NWS LaCrosse (southwest Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota, and northeast Iowa)
…Complex winter storm Tuesday night through Thursday… .A complex and highly effective winter storm will form Tuesday night through Thursday. The heaviest snow comes in two waves, the first from Tuesday night through Wednesday morning along an axis between Interstates 90 and 94 where amounts of 3 to 7 inches are expected. As the snow eases on Wednesday morning, the combination of persistent light snow showers and increasing northeast winds throughout the day may disrupt travel from blowing and drifting snow. The second wave of snow arrives Wednesday evening and is expected to generate at least another 6 inches of snow over the observation area, with high winds continuing to cause limited visibility. When the storm clears Thursday night, some locations in the watch could see over a foot of snow over the course of the two days. This looks to be a VERY powerful multi-faceted winter storm. Travel could be severely impacted at times. As some adjustments are possible in the storm track and there are uncertainties as to where the stronger snow bands and preferred wintry mixed areas lie along the southern boundary of the storm track, refinements to the forecast can be expected over the next few days. … WINTER STORM CLOCK NOW IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING TO THURSDAY AFTERNOON …
* WHAT… Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations ranged from 6 to 12 inches over the course of two days, with amounts in excess of a foot seen in some locations. Winds could get up to 45 km/h.
* WHERE…portions of southeast Minnesota and central, north-central, southwest, and west-central Wisconsin.
* WHEN…There will be two main rounds of snow. The first from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning and the second from Wednesday evening to Thursday afternoon. As the snow subsides between these two laps, increasing winds and blowing snow can cause ongoing travel difficulties.
* IMPLICATIONS… Traveling can be very difficult, if not impossible. Areas with blowing snow can significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could affect morning or evening commutes.
Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
Winter Storm Clock
Affected areas: anoka; benton; carver; Chicago; Dakota; Douglas; freeborn; goodhue; henpin; Isanti; kanabec; Le Sueur; Mille Lacs; Morrison; Ramsey; Rice; Scott; sherburn; stearns; Steele; Death; Waseca; Washington; Wright
NWS Minneapolis (southern Minnesota)
…MAJOR WINTER STORM TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY… .A severe winter storm will have a significant impact on travel throughout the region. Most locations can expect at least a foot of snow by Thursday evening. The worst conditions will be Wednesday night through Thursday as heavy snowfall is combined with northeast wind gusts of 30 to 40 miles per hour, with some areas of western Minnesota seeing gusts near 50 miles per hour. This results in significant snow drift and whiteout conditions in open areas. A winter storm watch is in effect for the entire area. Portions of this winter storm watch may be upgraded later today to a winter storm alert for a snow band that will move in on Tuesday. Snow will ease on Wednesday morning, but widespread heavy snow will develop later on Wednesday when the main storm arrives. This main storm is expected to bring almost a foot of snow in most locations, with higher amounts possible in central Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Blizzard conditions may also occur in areas of western and southern Minnesota. …WINTERSTURMWACH WILL STAY IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON…
* WHAT… Heavy snow possible with total snow accumulations of 10 to 18 inches. Wind gusts of up to 35 to 45 miles per hour can occur late Wednesday through Thursday.
* WHERE…portions of central, east-central, south-central, southeast and west-central Minnesota and northwest and west-central Wisconsin.
* WHEN…From Tuesday evening to Thursday afternoon.
* IMPLICATIONS… Travel can be very difficult to impossible, and the gusty winds can upset tree branches and cause power outages.
Avoid traveling late on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.
Winter Storm Clock
Affected areas: Cerro Gordo; Emmet; Hancock; Kossuth; Palo-Alto; Winnebago; Value
NWS DesMoines (Central Iowa)
…Significant winter storm with two rounds of precipitation… .A major winter storm with sustained wintry precipitation will affect the region Tuesday through Thursday. The first round will be mostly snow over far north Iowa, with slight accumulation possible. Otherwise, much of Iowa will not experience winter precipitation this first round. The second round of wintry precipitation from Wednesday through Thursday will be the more widespread and the more impactful part of this winter storm for the state of Iowa. That’s what this Winter Storm Watch is covering, and additional headlines and areas covered are certainly possible in the coming days. While snow will remain the primary precipitation mode over northern Iowa, a wintry mix with icing potential is possible between Highway 30 and 3. Further south for areas south of I-80, mostly rain is expected, which may end up as light snow with little or no accumulation. Wednesday through Thursday there will also be high and gusty winds that will drive snow across northern Iowa. Needless to say, travel impacts are increasingly likely Wednesday through Thursday across the north to parts of central Iowa and certainly areas in South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. …WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING…
* WHAT… Heavy mixed precipitation possible. Total snow accumulations from 4 to 10 inches with the highest possible accumulations near the Minnesota border over northwest Iowa. Possible ice accumulation up to about a tenth of an inch. Winds could get up to 45 km/h.
* WHERE… Northern Iowa.
* WHEN… From Wednesday morning to Thursday morning.
* IMPLICATIONS… Traveling could be very difficult. Areas with blowing snow can significantly reduce visibility. The dangerous conditions could affect morning and evening drives on Wednesday and Thursday. Gusty winds could knock over branches.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS… Light snow is possible Tuesday through Tuesday night which is not part of this current watch.
Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.