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: Lac Qui Parle; Yellow Medicine; Sibley; Redwood; Brown; Nicollet; Le Sueur; Watonwan; Blue Earth; Waseca; Steele; Martin; Faribault; Freeborn
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...Blizzard conditions possible. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 2 feet, sleet accumulations up to one tenth of an inch, and ice accumulations around a light glaze possible. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph. * WHERE...Sibley, Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan, Redwood, Lac Qui Parle, and Yellow Medicine Counties. * WHEN...From Saturday evening through Monday morning. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.
INSTRUCTION: Prepare for possible blizzard conditions. Continue to 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.
Want more detail? Get the Complete 7 Day and Night Detailed Forecast!
Current U.S. National Radar--Current
The Current National Weather Radar is shown below with a UTC Time (subtract 5 hours from UTC to get Eastern Time).
National Weather Forecast--Current
The Current National Weather Forecast and National Weather Map are shown below.
National Weather Forecast for Tomorrow
Tomorrow National Weather Forecast and Tomorrow National Weather Map are show below.
North America Water Vapor (Moisture)
This map shows recent moisture content over North America. Bright and colored areas show high moisture (ie, clouds); brown indicates very little moisture present; black indicates no moisture.
Weather Topic: What are Fractus Clouds?
Home - Education - Cloud Types - Fractus Clouds
Next Topic: Freezing Rain
A fractus cloud (scud) is a fragmented, tattered cloud which has
likely been sheared off of another cloud. They are accessory clouds, meaning they
develop from parent clouds, and are named in a way which describes the original
cloud which contained them.
Fractus clouds which have originated from cumulus clouds are referred to as
cumulus fractus, while fractus clouds which have originated from stratus clouds
are referred to as stratus fractus. Under certain conditions a fractus cloud might
merge with another cloud, or develop into a cumulus cloud, but usually a
fractus cloud seen by itself will dissipate rapidly.
They are often observed on the leading and trailing edges of storm clouds,
and are a display of wind activity.
Next Topic: Freezing Rain
Weather Topic: What is Graupel?
Home - Education - Precipitation - Graupel
Next Topic: Hail
Graupel is a form of precipitation that is created by atmospheric conditions
which cause supercooled water droplets to contact snow crystals and freeze to
their surface.
Sometimes known as soft hail or snow pellets, graupel is delicate and easily
destroyed by touch. Whereas hail usually falls during severe weather, graupel
doesn't require such conditions to form, and can form in mild precipitation
similar to situations which produce snowfall.
Next Topic: Hail
Current conditions powered by WeatherAPI.com
