Minneapolis residents are bracing for a severe shift in weather conditions, from widespread fog and rain to what the National Weather Service (NWS) has forecasted as a treacherous bout of heavy snow and blustery winds set to impact the region starting late Tuesday. According to an update from the NWS forecast, rain is expected throughout today, with a transition to snow in the evening, possibly culminating in several inches of accumulation.
As the day progresses, a clear warning has been issued for hazardous weather conditions. While markedly heavy rain is imminent in the morning, the transitioning weather front will usher in snow, with the possibility of it being heavy at times during the night. The NWS elaborated on this, stating that new snow accumulation "of 3 to 7 inches possible." The transition toward inclement weather is anticipated to escalate with "widespread blowing snow, mainly between 10pm and midnight" making visibility and travel increasingly challenging.
The outlook for the coming days remains grim as another chance for accumulating snow looms for late Friday into Saturday. The Hazardous Weather Outlook released by the NWS underscores the persistent danger extending well past the initial storm event. During the buildup to the storm, according to the National Weather Service, "Areas of fog with visibilities less than a half mile will continue through much of the morning across eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin."
The imminent blizzard conditions are set to disrupt life considerably, with the combination of snowfall rates exceeding an inch per hour and strong northwest winds gusting to 45 mph leading to the potential for blizzard conditions at times. Detailing the anticipated impacts, the NWS warns that "travel could be very difficult" and the treacherous conditions "will impact the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes." With advisories in place, Minneapolis residents are urged to prepare for the severe weather, keeping stocked with essentials and possibly avoiding non-essential travel as the storm approaches.
