Weather Alert in Minnesota
Winter Storm Watch issued March 13 at 2:27AM CDT until March 16 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
AREAS AFFECTED: Stearns; Meeker; Wright
DESCRIPTION: ...DANGEROUS WINTER STORM LIKELY TO BRING EXTREME SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND GUSTY WINDS... ...TRAVEL MAY BECOME IMPOSSIBLE LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY... .A major winter storm will move across the Upper Midwest late Saturday into Sunday. Model guidance continues to illustrate a remarkable precipitation footprint across the region which will yield heavy snow accumulations on the order of 1 to 2 feet. Totals across portions of western and central Wisconsin could exceed 2 feet. The combination of heavy snow and gusty winds will reduce visibility and create periods of blizzard conditions on Sunday across western and southern Minnesota. Travel is expected to become very difficult or impossible late Saturday night and Sunday. In addition, the amount of water in the snowpack will make it wet and very heavy, leading to the potential for infrastructure damage and a health hazard for those shoveling. * WHAT...Heavy snow and blowing snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 2 feet possible. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Meeker, Stearns, and Wright Counties. * WHEN...From Saturday evening through Monday morning. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.
INSTRUCTION: Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. Prepare now for potential road closures. Delay travel and shelter in place once conditions worsen. Remember, if interstate highways are closed, state highways and county roads are also impassable.
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Weather Topic: What are Shelf Clouds?
Home - Education - Cloud Types - Shelf Clouds
Next Topic: Sleet
A shelf cloud is similar to a wall cloud, but forms at the front
of a storm cloud, instead of at the rear, where wall clouds form.
A shelf cloud is caused by a series of events set into motion by the advancing
storm; first, cool air settles along the ground where precipitation has just fallen.
As the cool air is brought in, the warmer air is displaced, and rises above it,
because it is less dense. When the warmer air reaches the bottom of the storm cloud,
it begins to cool again, and the resulting condensation is a visible shelf cloud.
Next Topic: Sleet
Weather Topic: What is Snow?
Home - Education - Precipitation - Snow
Next Topic: Stratocumulus Clouds
Snow is precipitation taking the form of ice crystals. Each ice crystal, or snowflake,
has unique characteristics, but all of them grow in a hexagonal structure.
Snowfall can last for sustained periods of time and result in significant buildup
of snow on the ground.
On the earth's surface, snow starts out light and powdery, but as it begins to melt
it tends to become more granular, producing small bits of ice which have the consistency of
sand. After several cycles of melting and freezing, snow can become very dense
and ice-like, commonly known as snow pack.
Next Topic: Stratocumulus Clouds
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