Regional Weather View
All attention is focused on a major winter storm which will send its rampage across the Upper Midwest starting late tomorrow. Winter Storm Warnings, Watches and Blizzard watches are all out concerning this storms potential. This storm will cause blizzard conditions, heavy snow and major travel impacts to parts of Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Significant accumulations will also be seen in far Southeastern Minnesota Major snowfall accumulations over 12″ are possible with 4-5 foot drifts in parts of Iowa and Wisconsin, with winds gusting 45 to 50MPH at times here. A blast of cold arctic fairly typical for December will race in behind the storm bringing with in colder and much calmer weather for the weekend.
Local and Rochester Metro view.
Getting right to the storm in question we will be on the northwestern edge of this storm. Impacts here in Southeastern Minnesota will be from heavy snowfall and most importantly the wind which will gust over 45MPH at times causing blowing and drifting and blizzard conditions at times and the cold temperatures expected to follow it. We can expect that most of Wednesday will be ok with cloudy skies and fairly mild day in the lower 30s. Snow will start after 11pm and could quickly become heavy at times. It wont take long for strong northwesterly winds 30-35MPH to develop with gusts around possibly over 45MPH. This will cause blowing and drifting of snow which will cause significantly reduced visibilities especially in rural countryside areas. These conditions will last into Thursday Morning before the snow tapers but the strong winds and blowing snow continues even into Thursday Night. Temperatures will be falling through the day and the wind chill will be very cold below zero at times. We can expect lows to bottom out in the single digits Thursday night. We can expect that Friday will be sunny and cold with high pressure taking over. Sunny weather will last through the weekend but we will warm it up a few degrees with highs in the 20s Saturday and Sunday with lows in the single digits and 10s
Major travel impacts expected business and road closures likely
Forecast models have taken a northwest shift with this storm putting our area even more into its dangerous impacts. It is now likely snow will be heavy at times with winds gusting over 45MPH at times causing dangerous blizzard, whiteout conditions. Accumulations have been uped for all areas with the northwest shift in the storm seen. It will still be highest in the southeast where 8-12″ of snow is possible around Preston and Winona. 5-8″ is now possible around Austin, The Rochester metro area and Lake City. Wind gusts will be higher in these areas due to the naturally flat treeless areas, this will caused enhanced blowing and drifting leading to travel impacts and blizzard conditions at times. Dodge Center, Red Wing and Cannon Falls will see 2-4″with significant blowing and drifting seen here as well.
Wednesday, Cloudy skies, mild highs in the middle 30s. Wednesday Night, Windy! Snow developing, some could be moderate to heavy at times. Northwest winds increasing 30 to 35MPH with gusts over 45MPH possible. Significant blowing and drifting snow possible with whiteout condtions Lows in the low 20s.
Thursday, Windy and Cold! Blizzard Conditions at times with whiteout conditions. Snow ending in the afternoon but strong wind with cold wind chills continuing. Storm total accumulations 2-4″ Northwest 5-8″ central 8-12″ Southeast. Winds 30-35MPH with gusts over 45MPH Thursday Night, Breezy, Very Cold! with Cold wind chills. Lows in the upper single digits. Wind chills below zero
Friday, Cold! Not as windy, sunny with highs in the upper 10s. Friday Night, Clear skies, lows in the middle to upper single digits.
Saturday, Sunny skies, light winds, Highs in the upper 10s to lower 20s. Saturday Night, Clear skies, lows in the middle single digits.
Sunday, Sunny skies, light winds, highs in the upper 10s to lower 20s. Saturday Night, Clear skies, lows in the upper single digits to lower 10s.
Looking Ahead
Monday through Christmas Day: Weather looks quiet through Christmas for Southeastern Minnesota at this time with at least no big snowstorms. There is one little system which could bring light snow on Christmas day but it doesn’t look heavy. It will continue to be quiet into the end of this month. There is only a chance of small systems every 5 days or so. Temperatures during this time look to be on either side of normal with no big warm ups or cool downs. Then as we go into January a large trough of cold air races southward out of northwest Canada bringing with is extreamlly cold arctic air settling in after New Years. There might be a some snow as this air moves in but it does not show any big storms. We’ll need to continue to watch the model just in case any changes are seen. Winter can be a pretty crazy time for the U.S in terms of changes.