Minnesotans in Minneapolis should brace themselves for a bout of winter weather, with forecasters predicting a series of snowstorms to blanket the city starting Thursday. According to the latest update from the National Weather Service, the city is expecting "snow, mainly after 8:00 p.m." with possible new snow accumulation of three to five inches Thursday night.
The weather shift comes after a sunny Wednesday with the mercury rising to a high near 32 degrees and will see winds shift from the north-northwest to a lighter variable breeze as the night progresses. Meanwhile, Thursday's conditions are forecasted to quickly turn, bringing a 30 percent chance of snow after 5:00 p.m., as the city is covered in cloudy skies and sees a high near 36 degrees. By the end of the week, the snow is set to continue, with "snow, mainly before 8:00 a.m." on Friday and "less than one inch possible" new accumulation, indicating a brief respite before Friday night clears up.
The NWS warns the weekend will not be snow-free, with Saturday afternoon carrying a 20 percent chance of more flakes to fall as clouds increase. This comes ahead of more significant snowfall likely after 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, with the service expecting "heavy at times" snow throughout the day, and continuing into the night, possibly mixing with rain. Gusty winds are also on the agenda, with east winds expected to blow at 15 mph to 20 mph, and gusts as high as 30 mph.
The start of the week won't provide much relief as Monday looks to bring "rain and snow" with potential heavy snowfall and high temperatures reaching 40 degrees. It seems that this tumultuous mix of precipitation will carry on into Tuesday, with a 50 percent chance of rain and snow in the forecast, along with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 36 degrees, coupled with breezy conditions. Residents should prepare to bundle up and navigate cautiously through what appears to be a sustained wintry mix over the next several days.
