By 5:35 a.m. CDT Thursday, April 2, Minneapolis was waking up to a messy start. Skies were cloudy, temperatures hovered near freezing, and light freezing rain and sleet were already firing up across parts of the metro. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for portions of the Twin Cities through 12:00 p.m. CDT, and gusty east-northeast winds will make the morning drive feel even colder than the readings suggest.
Freezing rain and sleet are expected through mid-morning, then a change to plain rain between late morning and early afternoon, before precipitation mixes back with snow late Thursday afternoon and evening. East-northeast winds of 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph will turn roads slushy and slick, and may knock down small branches or leave untreated surfaces icy. According to the NWS Twin Cities, most of the metro should pick up less than a half-inch of new snow, though localized ice accumulations remain possible in the warning area.
Morning Commute Risk
The roughest stretch for drivers is expected between about 6 and 10 a.m. Thursday, when both air and road temperatures will be at their coldest and untreated surfaces could glaze over. If you have to head out, MnDOT urges delaying any nonessential trips and checking live road conditions at MnDOT 511 before you leave. Plan on slowing down, leaving extra room for braking, and stashing a basic winter kit in your vehicle, including blankets, a flashlight, and water, if you will be on the road.
What To Expect Through The Weekend
Central Minnesota is in line for the heaviest wet snow today, with bands capable of dropping 2 to 4 inches, while the Twin Cities stay mostly on the slushy, mixed-precipitation side of the system. A brief lull is likely tonight, then more rain spreads across southern Minnesota on Friday, with a chance of thunderstorms Friday night. Another round of accumulating snow is possible Saturday across central Minnesota. Per the NWS Twin Cities, temperatures should climb into the 40s on Friday and rebound again later next week.
An earlier preview of this system ran yesterday; see our county maps and background for more detail. If the warning includes your neighborhood, consider holding off on nonessential travel, keep your phone charged with extra blankets nearby, and stay tuned to local forecasts through the morning.
