Minneapolis, Minnesota – Drivers across the Twin Cities and much of eastern Minnesota should prepare for slick and hazardous travel conditions this afternoon as a quick-moving winter system brings freezing rain and sleet to the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Chanhassen, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from late Sunday morning through midafternoon for central, east-central, and southeast Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro. Sleet accumulations up to a tenth of an inch and a light glaze of ice are expected, which could quickly coat roads, bridges, and sidewalks.
The advisory covers a wide area including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Blaine, Woodbury, Hastings, Red Wing, and surrounding communities. Even though overall ice amounts are expected to remain light, temperatures near freezing will make it easy for untreated surfaces to turn slippery in a short amount of time.
As precipitation moves east, the winter mix will continue into western Wisconsin, where a mix of sleet, freezing rain, and light snow is expected to persist into the evening. Travel conditions may worsen there later in the day as precipitation lingers longer.
Motorists are urged to slow down, increase following distance, and avoid sudden braking during the afternoon hours. Conditions should gradually improve later today once precipitation moves out, but lingering slick spots may remain into the early evening. Drivers should continue to monitor Minnesota and Wisconsin 511 services for the latest road updates.
