Minnesota wakes up calm Monday morning, but by nightfall, winter reasserts itself with speed and force. Pavement that looks wet at first glance will quietly turn slick, especially across central and eastern Minnesota and much of western Wisconsin.
According to the National Weather Service, a Winter Weather Advisory takes effect from 9 p.m. Monday through noon Tuesday for a wide swath of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Freezing rain is expected to develop late this evening, with ice accumulations ranging from a tenth to two-tenths of an inch. That may not sound dramatic, but it is enough to create hazardous travel and scattered power issues.
In Minnesota, the advisory includes the Twin Cities metro, St. Cloud, Willmar, Litchfield, Little Falls, Cambridge, and surrounding counties. Roads across Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, Dakota, Stearns, Wright, Sherburne, and Meeker counties are likely to glaze over overnight. Conditions could deteriorate quickly after midnight.
Across Wisconsin, the risk spreads from Eau Claire and Menomonie east toward Hudson, River Falls, and Chippewa Falls. Areas along and north of Interstate 94 face the greatest icing threat, making early Tuesday travel especially risky.
The timing is problematic. Ice forms during the late-night hours, then lingers into the Tuesday morning commute, when traffic volume increases and visibility remains limited. Bridges, overpasses, and untreated roads will ice first. Sidewalks and parking lots will also turn treacherous.
Utility crews are monitoring the situation closely. While widespread outages are not guaranteed, isolated power disruptions are possible where ice coats tree limbs and lines.
Drivers should slow down, increase following distance, and consider delaying travel Tuesday morning if possible. Check conditions before leaving home by visiting 511mn.org or 511wi.gov.
Winter conditions remain active across the Upper Midwest this week, and additional advisories may be issued as the system evolves. If you’re heading out early Tuesday, what are road conditions like where you live?
