Minnesota and Wisconsin – A major winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow, strong winds, and dangerous travel across large portions of Minnesota and western Wisconsin from Sunday afternoon through early Monday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen, a strengthening storm system moving from the Central Plains toward the Great Lakes will intensify throughout the day. Snow will develop over western Minnesota near sunrise, with a rain and snow mix farther east that is expected to quickly change to all snow later Sunday as temperatures fall.
Winter Storm Warnings are in effect from noon Sunday to 9 a.m. CST Monday for much of east-central and southeast Minnesota and northwest and west-central Wisconsin, including the Twin Cities metro, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Eau Claire, Hudson, Menomonie, and Red Wing. Snow accumulations of 7 to 10 inches are expected, accompanied by northwest wind gusts up to 45 mph, causing widespread blowing snow.
Additional Winter Storm Warnings from 9 a.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. CST Monday cover central Minnesota counties, including Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Kanabec, and Mille Lacs, where 5 to 8 inches of snow are forecast.
Farther west and south, Blizzard Warnings remain in effect in a corridor from Morris and Long Prairie south through Granite Falls, the far southwestern Twin Cities metro, and into the Mankato and Albert Lea areas, where wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph are expected to produce whiteout conditions in open areas.
The National Weather Service warns that travel will become dangerous later Sunday and remain hazardous into early Monday, with impacts expected during the Monday morning commute. Residents are encouraged to delay or alter travel plans.
Road conditions are available at 511mn.org in Minnesota and 511wi.gov in Wisconsin.
