Minnesota – Low clouds hang over the Twin Cities this afternoon as light flakes drift across roads and rooftops, signaling the start of a larger winter push that will build through the Jan 17–18 weekend. Pavement already looks dull and damp, and winds continue to pick up, the first hint of tougher travel hours ahead.

According to the National Weather Service, a steady band of snow moves across Minneapolis–St. Paul today with highs near 30°F and south winds up to 15 mph. Light accumulations continue into tonight as temperatures fall toward the upper 20s. Western Wisconsin may see the heaviest totals, where 1–3 inches are likely.

Friday brings the most disruptive stretch. Meteorologists now expect patchy blowing snow by midday, dropping visibility on I-94, I-35W, and Highway 52. Winds strengthen sharply from the northwest with gusts near 30 mph in the cities and up to 40–50 mph across west-central and southern Minnesota. Drivers should plan extra time and watch for sudden whiteouts at bridge decks and open fields.

Late Friday into Saturday stays sharply colder. Highs fall into the upper single digits Saturday with blustery winds and persistent cloud cover. Any fresh snow will freeze hard on untreated surfaces, raising the black-ice risk through early Sunday. By Sunday afternoon, light snow returns with highs in the mid-teens and a biting northwest breeze.

The broader pattern holds Minnesota in a prolonged cold snap through early next week, even as warmer air builds across the Southwest and pushes moisture into the central U.S. by midweek. Conditions may shift quickly as the next system organizes.

Traveling Saturday or Sunday? Tell us what conditions you’re seeing across your route.

Five-Day Weather for Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota

• Today: Chance of snow. High near 30°F.
• Tonight: Snow likely. Low around 27°F.
• Friday: Snow, patchy blowing snow. High near 24°F, falling into the teens.
• Friday Night: Isolated snow showers. Low around 8°F.
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy and blustery. High near 9°F.
• Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy. Low around –5°F.
• Sunday: Chance of snow. High near 14°F.
• Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy. Low near 4°F.
• MLK Day: Cold. High near 4°F.