Minneapolis residents are bundling up as a combination of snowfall and dropping temperatures hit the region today, with the National Weather Service forecasting a 100% chance of snow before the afternoon and a sharp decline in temperature to about 12 degrees by early evening. The northbound wind shifting after midday will not help, adding a biting chill to the already frosty air, according to the National Weather Service. A total daytime accumulation of around an inch of snow is expected, setting a winter scene for the last day of the year.
As night descends on this New Year's Eve, the skies are set to clear partially, but it’s the plummeting temperatures that will be a cause for concern, chilling bone and sentiment alike, with lows around zero and wind chill values sinking to a numbing negative ten degrees, the evening will require layers upon layers for anyone venturing outside to celebrate according to the forecast. The precarious dance of clear skies and frigid air will usher in a rather unforgiving start to the new year.
The coming days appear to be a mixed bag of cold, clouds, and brief sunny reprieves; New Year's Day will bring a 40 percent chance of snow and a high near the fragile warmth of 13 degrees meanwhile, the following night is predicted to revert to mostly clear conditions, hinting at what could be, a high near 15 degrees arriving with sunshine on Friday, says the National Weather Service.
Spilling into the weekend and the subsequent days, Minneapolis folks can anticipate a slight warming trend although a 20 percent chance of snow flurries after midnight on Friday could bring another layer of winter's touch; partly sunny skies and higher temperatures nearing the upper 20's by Sunday suggest a gentle shift from the harsh embrace of winter's start, however, the ever-present possibility of snowfall looms as a cold reminder of the season's stronghold over the city's vistas concluded the forecast.
The local travel conditions have a slippery edge today with the National Weather Service issuing a warning of slick roads due to expected snow accumulations, and spots of freezing drizzle in southwest Minnesota, "Another clipper will slide southeast through the region this morning, and slick travel conditions may develop," the Hazardous Weather Outlook cautions travelers. Fortunately, no further hazardous weather is expected in the days following today’s wintry mix, promising a smoother start to the new year for those on the roads and outdoors.
