Blowing snow and icy roads will make journey powerful tonight into Wednesday

We proceed to trace a winter storm that may have vital impacts to a lot of the area later this afternoon by way of tonight into early Wednesday. After a really chilly however calm Thanksgiving, we’re watching one other system that would convey extra measurable snow to our area late Friday and Saturday into Sunday.

TODAY & TONIGHT

There have been a number of essential adjustments right this moment because the incoming winter storm traits stronger, farther south, and better impacts for southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. The newest early afternoon information confirms a quicker transition from rain to snow, extra intense snowfall charges, and a harmful mixture of flash freeze and robust northwest wind gusts.

TIMING & IMPACTS FOR SOUTHERN MN / NORTHERN IA

This Evening (West to East)

• There has been a slight delay within the onset of the system with snow anticipated to develop from west to east after 7 to 8pm within the Mankato space.
• Temperatures crash into the 20s, producing a flash freeze—moist roads turning icy in minutes.
• Northwest wind gusts 40–60 mph will create areas of blowing snow and sudden drops in visibility.
• Brief near-blizzard situations are doable throughout the heavier snow bands.

Tonight → Early Wednesday Morning

• Snow continues for a number of hours after the changeover, then step by step tapers earlier than dawn.
• Even after the snow ends, blowing and drifting will stay a difficulty, particularly in open nation.
• Travel may very well be hazardous by way of early Wednesday because of icy roads and drifting.

Wednesday

• Snow ends early, however gusty winds (30–35 mph) persist into the afternoon.
• Temperatures drop sharply into the teenagers by Thanksgiving morning, with wind chills within the single digits.

SNOWFALL AMOUNTS (Sharp Gradient Across the Region)

• Highest totals (4–7”+): North of the speedy viewing space throughout central and northern MN.
• Moderate totals (2–4”+): Much of southern MN alongside and north of Highway 14, together with Mankato, Waseca, Owatonna, Faribault.
• Lighter quantities (<2”): Farther south towards the MN/IA border and into northern Iowa, however nonetheless slick journey from the flash freeze and robust winds.

Snow bands will likely be very slim, and totals might differ loads over brief distances because of drifting.

Bottom line: Even the place snowfall totals are decrease, icy roads and robust winds will create hazardous journey later right this moment, tonight, and early Wednesday.

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving day will likely be chilly and quiet with highs within the higher 20s to low 30s. That will proceed into Friday, however our subsequent system will arrive someday late Friday into Saturday.

LOOKING AHEAD: THANKSGIVING WEEKEND SYSTEM

Our longer-range information continues to sign the potential for measurable snow throughout components of southern Minnesota and northern Iowa late Friday into Saturday and probably early Sunday.

It’s nonetheless too early to pin down precise quantities or who sees the heaviest snow, however a swath of a number of inches is feasible someplace within the area.

The excellent news: Wind will not be practically as robust as right this moment’s system. Gusts 15–25 mph may nonetheless trigger some blowing snow however nothing just like the situations we’re coping with tonight.

Keep your KEYC First Alert app helpful for updates all weekend lengthy. We’ll focus extra carefully on the post-Thanksgiving system as soon as this present storm exits.

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