CHANHASSEN, Minn. — The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities says a long-duration winter storm will spread across southern Minnesota late Friday through Saturday night, bringing heavy snow, slick roads, and difficult travel before a surge of Arctic air arrives to start next week.
A Winter Storm Warning covers southern Minnesota, including Mankato, Albert Lea, Rochester, and La Crosse, where 6 to 10 inches of snow are expected. Farther north, a Winter Weather Advisory includes the Twin Cities metro, western Wisconsin, and portions of central Minnesota, where 3 to 6 inches of accumulation are likely.
Snowfall will be light to moderate but prolonged, continuing into early Sunday morning. The NWS warns that the long duration may cause travel disruptions, particularly along Interstates 90 and 35, with slippery roads and reduced visibility. Drivers are urged to slow down and use caution.
After the storm, Arctic air will settle across the region, sending overnight lows near 0°F and keeping daytime highs in the teens through much of next week. Fortunately, winds will remain light, limiting extreme wind chills.
Forecasters emphasize checking updated local forecasts at weather.gov/mpx and monitoring travel conditions before heading out this weekend.
