Flash Freeze, Blowing Snow Threaten Travel Thursday In Twin Cities

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A Winter Weather Advisory and Wind Advisory are in effect Thursday evening as a fast-moving system brings snow showers, blowing snow, and sharply falling temperatures to the Twin Cities.

Thursday will start mild before temperatures fall rapidly through the afternoon. Snow showers are most likely between about 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., with patchy blowing snow and wind gusts up to 40 mph. Snow accumulations are expected to stay under a half inch, but rapidly falling temperatures could lead to flash freeze conditions as moisture freezes on untreated roads.

High temperatures will fall from the upper 30s into the teens by late afternoon.

Snow chances taper off early Thursday evening, with skies gradually clearing overnight. Lows will dip to around -1, with wind chills as cold as -15.

Friday will be cold but quieter, with increasing clouds and a high near 25. Wind chills will remain below zero during the morning hours before winds turn lighter later in the day.

Another slight chance of snow returns late Friday night into early Saturday. Saturday starts cloudy, then turns partly sunny, with temperatures briefly rising into the mid-20s before falling back into the teens during the afternoon. Gusty northwest winds will continue.

Sunday looks dry and cold, with sunshine and a high near 19. A weak system could bring a slight chance of snow late Sunday night into early Monday.

Temperatures warm early next week, with highs climbing back into the low to mid-30s by Monday and Tuesday.

Here's the full NWS forecast from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport:

Today: Snow likely, mainly between 4pm and 5pm. Patchy blowing snow between 3pm and 5pm. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 16 by 4pm. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before 7pm. Patchy blowing snow before 7pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around -1. Wind chill values as low as -15. Blustery, with a northwest wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

Friday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 25. Wind chill values as low as -14. West northwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a temperature rising to near 26 by 11am, then falling to around 19 during the remainder of the day. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 0. West northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 19. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature rising to around 22 by 4am. South southeast wind around 10 mph.

Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. South southeast wind around 10 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. South southeast wind around 10 mph becoming west northwest after midnight.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 31. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast after midnight.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.