Minneapolis, Minnesota – A powerful late-season winter storm is set to impact the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest by Friday, with heavy snow and dangerous icing threatening travel and power infrastructure.
According to the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center, snowfall rates could exceed 1 inch per hour as the system moves from the Rockies into the Northern Plains on Friday, then into northern Minnesota by Friday night. Many areas have a 70 to 90 percent chance of receiving at least 8 inches of snow through Saturday, with the heaviest band stretching from the Dakotas into northern Minnesota.
At the same time, a corridor of significant icing is expected from South Dakota into northern Wisconsin and parts of northern Michigan. Ice accumulations of at least one tenth of an inch are likely, with some areas facing higher totals that could weigh down power lines and tree limbs.
Major routes including I-94, I-90, and U.S. 2 could become snow-covered or ice-coated, leading to dangerous travel conditions across multiple states.
Residents are urged to prepare for potential power outages, avoid unnecessary travel, and monitor updates as this second storm follows closely behind an earlier system.
Warnings and advisories are expected to expand as the storm approaches late this week.
