Second Round of Winter Storm Bringing Several More Inches of Snow

Following a brief lull from this morning's winter weather, a second band of snow is set to drop as much as 10 additional inches on the Twin Cities.

According to the National Weather Service's Chanhassen office, the second dose of heavy snow will move into the area Monday evening, increasing in intensity as it nears St. Cloud and Mankato. The heaviest snowfall is expected around midnight in the metro area, with snowfall tapering off during the late morning and early afternoon Tuesday.

Northwest winds will also be heavy during the storm, averaging between 15 and 20 MPH and gusting between 25 and 30 MPH Tuesday. The NWS reports the windy conditions will lead to blowing and drifting of the fresh snowfall, particularly in open areas.

The National Weather Service has issued the following Winter Storm Warning through 6 p.m. Tuesday, Mar. 5. 

* TIMING: MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL DEVELOP THIS EVENING AND LAST THROUGH TONIGHT. SNOWFALL WILL BEGIN TO SLOWLY DIMINISH LATE TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. 

* MAIN IMPACTS: ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 6 TO 9 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS NEAR 10 INCHES...LIKELY BY TUESDAY EVENING.

* OTHER IMPACTS: SOME MINOR BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW IN OPEN AREAS WILL BE POSSIBLE TUESDAY AFTERNOON AS NORTHWEST WINDS START GUSTING TO AROUND 25 MPH.

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.