Weather Alert in Minnesota
Winter Storm Warning issued March 14 at 6:12AM CDT until March 15 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
AREAS AFFECTED: Stevens; Pope; Lac Qui Parle; Swift; Chippewa; Kandiyohi; Meeker; Yellow Medicine; Renville; McLeod
DESCRIPTION: ...POWERFUL WINTER STORM ON TRACK TO BRING EXTREME SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND STRONG WINDS... ...A WINTRY MIX OF RAIN, FREEZING RAIN, AND SLEET LATE TONIGHT ACROSS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA... ...TRAVEL MAY BECOME IMPOSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY... .A major winter storm will move across the Upper Midwest starting late this afternoon and lasting through Sunday evening. The first concern is heavy snow with a broad area of 12 to 18 inches expected across central Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A narrow swath within the broader area may approach 2 feet in parts of far east central Minnesota and west central Wisconsin. Rates of 2 to 2.5 inches per hour are likely late tonight. A wintry mix of rain, freezing rain, and sleet is now expected to work north into southern Minnesota tonight. A half inch of sleet and a tenth of an inch of ice are expected from New Ulm to Red Wing and south. The wintry mix will turn to all snow Sunday morning. The second concern is increasing winds on Sunday. Even though the snow will be tapering off gradually throughout Sunday, northwest winds will increase to 30 to 40 mph. Some gusts of 50 to 55 mph are possible. The combination of falling snow, blowing snow, and gusty winds will reduce visibility and create blizzard conditions late Sunday morning through Sunday evening across western and southern Minnesota. Travel is expected to become very difficult or impossible late tonight through Sunday evening. In addition, the amount of water in the snowpack will make it very heavy, leading to the potential for infrastructure damage and a health hazard for those shoveling. * WHAT...For the Winter Storm Warning, heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 10 and 15 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph. For the Blizzard Warning, blizzard conditions expected. Additional snow accumulations up to two inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph. * WHERE...Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Pope, Stevens, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties. * WHEN...For the Winter Storm Warning, from 4 PM this afternoon to 10 AM CDT Sunday. For the Blizzard Warning, from 10 AM Sunday to 4 AM CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches. Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening.
INSTRUCTION: Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. Call 5 1 1 or visit 511mn.org for road conditions. Prepare now for potential road closures. Delay travel and shelter in place once conditions worsen. Remember, if interstate highways are closed, state highways and county roads are also impassable.
Want more detail? Get the Complete 7 Day and Night Detailed Forecast!
Current U.S. National Radar--Current
The Current National Weather Radar is shown below with a UTC Time (subtract 5 hours from UTC to get Eastern Time).
National Weather Forecast--Current
The Current National Weather Forecast and National Weather Map are shown below.
National Weather Forecast for Tomorrow
Tomorrow National Weather Forecast and Tomorrow National Weather Map are show below.
North America Water Vapor (Moisture)
This map shows recent moisture content over North America. Bright and colored areas show high moisture (ie, clouds); brown indicates very little moisture present; black indicates no moisture.
Weather Topic: What is Fog?
Home - Education - Cloud Types - Fog
Next Topic: Fractus Clouds
Fog is technically a type of stratus cloud, which lies along the
ground and obscures visibility.
It is usually created when humidity in the air condenses into tiny water droplets.
Because of this, some places are more prone to foggy weather, such as regions
close to a body of water.
Fog is similar to mist; both are the appearance of water droplets suspended in
the air, but fog is the term applied to the condition when visibility is less than 1 km.
Next Topic: Fractus Clouds
Weather Topic: What is Freezing Rain?
Home - Education - Precipitation - Freezing Rain
Next Topic: Graupel
Freezing rain is a condition where precipitation which has fallen in the form of
water droplets reaches temperatures which are below freezing and freezes upon
coming into contact
with surface objects. The result of this precipitation is a glaze of ice which
can be damaging to plants and man-made structures. A severe onset of freezing
rain which results in a very thick glaze of ice is known as an ice storm.
Next Topic: Graupel
Current conditions powered by WeatherAPI.com
