Minneapolis, Minnesota – A late-season winter storm is set to create dangerous travel conditions across the Upper Midwest within hours, with heavy snow and up to a half-inch of ice impacting roads through the Friday morning commute.
According to the NOAA Weather Prediction Center, a widespread mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain will expand from the Northern Plains into Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Michigan starting tonight and continuing through Thursday. Snowfall totals of 3 to 6 inches are expected across northern Minnesota and the Dakotas, with localized amounts exceeding 6 inches.
The greatest concern shifts south and east, where freezing rain could produce between 0.25 and 0.50 inches of ice from southern Minnesota into central Wisconsin and parts of northern Michigan. This level of ice accumulation can down tree limbs and power lines, leading to outages and hazardous road conditions.
Major corridors including I-94, I-35, and I-90 could become slick and dangerous, especially during overnight and early morning hours. Cities such as Minneapolis, Eau Claire, and Green Bay may see rapidly changing conditions from snow to ice.
Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary travel, prepare for potential power outages, and monitor warnings as this multi-state storm unfolds through early Friday.
