Ready or not, here it comes.

Winter will be here Monday with the arrival of the first snowstorm of the season followed by lower than average temperatures.

By the time the storm draws to a close midday Tuesday, the metro could be covered in 8 to 10 inches of snow.

"There's a very strong likelihood there will be snow on the ground by the morning commute Monday," said Joe Calderone, senior forecaster at the National Weather Service in Chanhassen.

After a windy weekend of sunny skies and temperatures in the 40s, the Twin Cities should start seeing snow after midnight Sunday. The heaviest of the snow will occur Monday morning through Monday afternoon.

Commuters should prepare for slick roads and allow extra travel time for both morning and evening rush hours, forecasters said. The snowfall will slowly taper off Monday night into Tuesday morning.

Minnesotans spent the weekend bracing for the season's first wintry weather with trips to their neighborhood hardware stores to buy both lawn bags and snowblowers.

"It's Minnesota, so there's always two seasons happening at one time," said David Lansing, assistant manager at Frattallone's Ace Hardware in Burnsville. "After last year's hard winter, people don't seem to be messing around this year. We're selling a few shovels here and there, but they're mostly going right for the snowblowers."

The first major snowfall of the season always sends people into a panic, said Star Tribune meteorologist Paul Douglas.

"Over three decades I've noticed the first snow of winter triggers a disproportionate unease," he said. " 'Will I remember how to drive on snow and slush? How much extra time should I allow for my commute?' "

The Twin Cities' first serious snowfall will be followed by a full arctic outbreak Tuesday that will bring windchill temperatures more typical of January than November. There will be a streak of days with lows in the single digits and highs in the 20s.

According to a winter storm watch issued Saturday afternoon for the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, travel could be affected longer, because lower temperatures expected to follow the storm could keep icy patches of compacted snow on the roads.

"It is going to be a wet, heavier snow, so it will make it harder to shovel," Calderone said. "There's also going to be northeast winds about 15 to 25 miles per hour, so that will also impact travel, reducing visibilities a little bit."

Sounds like a wintry weather ­trifecta: heavy, backbreaking snow; frigid temps; and hazardous travel. But hey, at least we're not alone. Most of the country will be seeing colder than usual weather throughout the week.

Aimee Blanchette • 612-673-1715