Incoming Winter Storm Could Bring Foot of Snow to Twin Cities

Yet another winter storm, the third in four weeks, is set to make its arrival in the Twin Cities area Sunday night, dropping heavy snow through Monday and bringing some windy conditions to make the morning commute difficult. 

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Chanhassen has issued a winter storm warning for this yet-to-be-named system, which is expected to drop its heaviest snow overnight Sunday into Monday. 

According to forecasters, the storm could produce as much as 6 to 12 inches of snow on the metro area between midnight Sunday and 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Snowfall is expected to hit the area in two waves over the next couple of days, with the first hitting Sunday night into Monday morning. Following a period of decreased snowfall Monday afternoon and evening, a second round of heavy snow is expected Monday night through Tuesday morning.

After more than four days of above-average temps and some actual snow melt, the NWS said the Twin Cities can expect to see a good dose of new precipitation. 

"A winter storm warning for heavy snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring," according to the National Weather Service. "Significant amounts of snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous. Only travel in an emergency. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency."

A complete rundown of the system, and the NWS forecast, can be seen in the above YouTube video. 

Here is the full weather statement:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN

1109 AM CST SUN MAR 3 2013

SNOW SPREADING IN TONIGHT AND LASTING THROUGH TUESDAY,

A WINTER STORM WILL IMPACT THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND UPPER MIDWEST BEGINNING TONIGHT AND LASTING THROUGH TUESDAY. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6-10 INCHES TO MUCH OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND FAR WESTERN WISCONSIN. SOME STORM TOTALS COULD APPROACH 12 INCHES DEPENDING ON WHERE PRIMARY SNOW BANDS SET UP.

THIS SNOWFALL LOOKS TO BE SPLIT UP INTO TWO WAVES OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW. THE FIRST WILL COME TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING, WITH A SECOND ROUND EXPECTED MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. SNOWFALL RATES ARE EXPECTED TO DECREASE FOR A PERIOD MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING BETWEEN THESE TWO WAVES.

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM CST TUESDAY

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW, WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM CST TUESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* TIMING: TWO PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING AND AGAIN MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING. SNOW WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

* MAIN IMPACTS: SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 6 TO 10 INCHES, WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS NEAR 12 INCHES POSSIBLE BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

* OTHER IMPACTS: SOUTHEAST WINDS GUSTING TO AROUND 25 MPH MONDAY WILL RESULT IN SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN OPEN AREAS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS:

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.  SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL, KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT, FOOD, AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

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