A multifaceted storm

A strong storm brings a potent cold front across Minnesota overnight Wednesday.  

With temperatures so warm Wednesday and in the overnight until the front passes, it will be mild enough for a mix of rain, freezing rain, and snow when precipitation starts moving across Minnesota late Wednesday evening. 

Forecast precipitation types early Thursday  Graphic: National Weather Service 

As the front moves through overnight and temperatures dive, the wintry mix turns to entirely snow by Thursday morning. The snow then begins clearing west to east, ending in western Minnesota by late Thursday morning and completely moving out of the state by evening.

The heaviest precipitation stays east of Minnesota, so most of the state will see less than 2 inches of snow, with up to 3 to 5 inches on the eastern edges of the state.  

Storm watches, advisories, and forecast snow Graphic: National Weather Service 

For the Twin Cities, 1 to 3 inches are likely, depending on how much of the initial precipitation is rain versus snow.

High winds gusting over 30 and possibly 40 mph will only add to the weather concerns.

Peak wind gusts expected Thursday  Graphic: National Weather Service 

Because an icy glaze form the initial rain and freezing rain may produce slick roads, plus high winds causing blowing snow could create whiteouts, most of southern Minnesota is under either a winter weather advisory or winter storm watch.

Arctic air

The high winds Thursday also funnel much colder air across the state. Temperatures drop all of Thursday into Friday morning.  

Highs Friday will be only in the single-digits north and teens south, but temperatures continue to get colder each day until at least Sunday. By Sunday, high across almost the entire state will be below zero, making it the coldest day of the winter so far for most of Minnesota.  

Lows will be even more frigid, especially Sunday and Monday morning, when temperatures for most of the state will be minus 15 to minus 30. That puts the state 25 to 35 degrees below average.  

Wind chills make the temperatures even more dangerous, feeling like 25 to 40 below during the coldest mornings.

Forecast wind chill temperatures Sunday morning  Graphic: National Weather Service 

 It currently looks like the cold will linger most of next week, so be prepared to bundle up!

To see the original report and read more weather related reporting, follow this link to the MRP News website.  https://www.mprnews.org/story/2021/02/02/a-wintry-mix-targets-minnesota-thursday-then-brutal-cold