The weather in Minneapolis is set to turn much more winter-like, as the National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN has issued updates on the expected snowfall and potential hazardous conditions for central and southeastern Minnesota, as well as parts of northwest Wisconsin. Today, Minneapolis will see a 30 percent chance of snow, primarily from late morning to the afternoon, with possible snow accruals looming as we cross into the evening hours.
According to the forecast, temperatures are anticipated to hover near 27 degrees, beneath a ceiling of grey, with southeast winds meandering at a gentle 5 to 10 mph. Come nightfall, the chance of precipitation jumps dramatically to 90%, and Minneapolis could see a new layer of 1 to 2 inches of snowfall. The southeast winds are to shift west northwest post-midnight, trailing off into cooler Sunday predictions.
The snowy scenario is expected to extend into Sunday morning, possibly petering out before 10am. The decline will follow a temperature nosedive down to about 11 degrees by late afternoon, as northwest winds pick up the pace at 10 to 15 mph, possibly gusting to as high as 30 mph. Residents should prepare for the frosty touch of potential new snow accumulation of less than a half inch.
The Hazardous Weather Outlook also hints at a challenging start to the week. Sunday night will bring partly cloudy skies with temperatures plunging to around -2, but wind chill values could make it feel as low as -17. There's more bite to the chill as northwest winds continue at 10 to 15 mph, their gusts matching the daytime's ferocity. Throughout the week, we can expect a gradation of cold, from the sunny yet frigid highlights of Tuesday's 7 degrees, to a more bearable Thursday, eyeing a high near 35 degrees.
For those who embrace the role of community weather sentinels, the National Weather Service encourages spotters and observers to report snowfall amounts. This collaborative effort becomes part of a larger attempt to monitor and manage the wintry capriciousness that is laying its claim on Minneapolis and its neighboring regions, as they bundle up and brace for yet another reminder that winter, in its core essence, is as relentless as the march of time itself.
