UPDATE: Winter Storm Warning Issued for Golden Valley, Hennepin County

Updated Dec. 7, 5:45 p.m.:

The National Weather Service changed their winter weather watch to a winter storm warning Friday evening. According to the statement, snow will taper off Friday night and a "larger winter storm" is expected Saturday and Sunday.

Weather service forecasters say accumulations in the winter storm warning area will range from five to eight inches.

On Sunday, forecasters say that blowing and drifting snow will be an issue for drivers.

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Published Dec. 7, 7 a.m:

According to a statement released by the National Weather Service, a number of Central and Southern Minnesota counties, including Hennepin County, will receive a significant amount of snow over the next three days.

The statement says:

A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. THIS FEATURE WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATION ALONG WITH STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS DEVELOPING IN THE WAKE OF THE SYSTEM.

A WINTER STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND ADJOINING AREAS OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. SNOWFALL IN THESE AREAS MAY REACH OR EXCEED SIX INCHES.

SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FROM THE TWIN CITIES ON EAST AND SOUTH ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 3 TO 5 INCH RANGE. IN ADDITION...NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH ARE LIKELY ACROSS WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA ON SUNDAY. THIS MAY RESULT IN NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS.

The National Weather Service also said that temperatures will drop sharply after the snowfall, resulting in below zero windchills on Sunday and Monday.

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