Seems like that slow descent into winter has now become a flash in the deep freeze.
A trio of snow-producing fronts are set to bring another 6 to 8 inches of snow on Wright County Friday through Saturday, followed by extreme cold and blustery winds that will make travel treacherous this weekend before the holiday weekend.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for most of Minnesota.
According to the NWS – First, a big snowstorm is expected Friday into early Saturday. Widespread totals in excess of 6 inches are likely, with some in the 8 to 10 inch range across portions of the area. Then following the snow, bitterly cold air – the coldest since January of 2014 – will arrive with widespread temperatures in the -20s Saturday night and wind chills of -30 to -45°F by early Sunday morning.
The official warning reads:
Snow will overspread the area during the Day Friday and become locally heavy Friday afternoon into Friday night before tapering off Saturday morning. Snowfall amounts of 6 to 10 inches are Likely with this storm across Southern Minnesota and in West Central Wisconsin. Areas along and South of a line from Appleton…To Litchfield…To the Twin Cities…To Eau Claire will Likely see the heaviest Snow. Blowing Snow and frigid temperatures will follow the Snow this weekend. Although the main storm will develop Friday afternoon…There will be Light Snow tonight…But amounts will be generally around an inch or less before more Snow develops Friday afternoon.
Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-Meeker-Wright-Hennepin- Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-yellow medicine-Renville-Mcleod-Sibley- Carver-Scott-Dakota-Redwood-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue- watonwan-Blue Earth-Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn- st. Croix-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Eau Claire- including the cities of…Madison…Benson…Montevideo… Willmar…Litchfield…Monticello…Minneapolis…Blaine… St Paul…Stillwater…Granite Falls…Olivia…Hutchinson… Gaylord…Chaska…Shakopee…Hastings…Redwood Falls… New Ulm…St Peter…Le Sueur…Faribault…Red Wing…St James… Mankato…Waseca…Owatonna…Fairmont…Blue Earth… Albert Lea…Hudson…River Falls…Prescott…Menomonie… Durand…Chippewa Falls…Eau Claire 325 PM CST Thu Dec 15 2016
.Winter Storm Warning remains in effect from Noon Friday to 6 PM CST Saturday…
* Expect Snow to develop around Noon Friday and then diminish around 6 PM Saturday.
* The heaviest snowfall rates will occur Between 6 PM Friday and Midnight Saturday.
* Total Snow accumulations of 6 to 10 inches are expected.
* Winds gusting as High as 30 mph will cause patchy blowing and Drifting Snow. In addition…Some reductions to visibility are expected.
* Expect wind chills to Range from 5 above zero to 30 below zero Between noon Friday and 6 PM Saturday…With the coldest wind chills occurring around 5 PM Saturday.
* Plan on Difficult driving conditions. The dangerously cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as Little as 10 minutes to exposed skin.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
A Winter Storm Warning for Snow Means severe Winter Weather conditions are expected. If you must travel…Keep an Extra flashlight…Food and water in your vehicle in Case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 511.