Snow, Gusty Winds, And Bitter Cold Expected In Twin Cities

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Periods of light snow, gusty winds and sharply colder air are expected to impact the Twin Cities and much of Minnesota from Thursday through the weekend.

Light snow is forecast to move into the area Thursday, followed by a longer-duration round of scattered snow showers on Friday. The snow is expected to occur in multiple waves, with breaks in between, rather than as one continuous event.

Snow accumulations are expected to remain relatively modest across most of Minnesota. Around 1 to 2 inches of snow is possible in many areas, with higher totals of 2 to 4 inches possible farther east, including parts of western Wisconsin and far eastern Minnesota.

While snowfall totals are not expected to be heavy, travel impacts are still possible. Gusty northwest winds are expected to increase Friday, with the strongest winds across western Minnesota. Wind gusts in that area could reach 30 to 40 mph. The combination of falling snow and strong winds may reduce visibility at times and create hazardous travel conditions.

Friday is expected to be the most impactful day, as snow showers, gusty winds and falling temperatures overlap.

Much colder air will follow the snow.

By Saturday, wind chills between -15 and -25 are possible across western Minnesota, with dangerous cold spreading east into the weekend. High temperatures Saturday are expected to remain in the single digits, with subzero wind chills continuing into Sunday.

Drivers should be prepared for changing road conditions Friday and for extreme cold heading into the weekend.

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

Thursday: Snow likely, mainly between 11am and 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday Night: Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Friday: Snow likely, mainly before noon. Patchy blowing snow after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 17 by 5pm. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before midnight. Patchy blowing snow before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 7. Northwest wind around 15 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around -5. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest after midnight.

Sunday: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 14. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around -3. Northwest wind around 15 mph.

M.L.King Day: Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 5. Northwest wind around 15 mph.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around -2. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 13. West wind around 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4. West wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 17. West northwest wind around 10 mph.