Up to 6 inches of snow expected for Twin Cities

If you liked December's snowy weather, you're going to absolutely love January's forecast -- and it's expected to begin this afternoon.

Star Tribune

Last update: January 3, 2009 - 7:30 AM

It's a new year, but the same weather pattern that seemingly brought snow to Minnesota just about every other day in December will continue right into January, with a winter storm warning posted for the northern two-thirds of the state, including the metro suburbs.

Also, a strip across southern Minnesota, from Marshall to Mankato to Red Wing, will be under a winter weather advisory until Sunday and could get between 2 and 4 inches of snow.

The storm also could deliver 3 to 6 inches of snow across the Twin Cities starting around noon -- and even more in places such as Little Falls, where residents just finished digging out from under a 14-inch snowfall on Tuesday, the National Weather Service reported.

The warning, in effect from noon Saturday through Sunday, includes the northern third of Wisconsin and the eastern portion of North Dakota, the Weather Service said.

The greatest potential for 6 inches or more of snow is along a line from Olivia to Willmar to St. Cloud and just to the north of the immediate Twin Cities metro area. Places in northeastern Minnesota could see up to a foot, said Jim Richardson, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Chanhassen.

"We will not dodge this one," he said, adding that it would not surprise him if more than 6 inches accumulated in some of the northern suburbs.

Highs will reach about 30 degrees before the storm moves in and drags cold arctic air with it, Richardson said.

After today's snowfall, more bitter air will grip the state tonight into Monday. Sunday's high will be 10 degrees above zero with a low of minus-8 and windchills below zero all day.

Monday calls for sunny conditions and a high of 15. A warmup and, you guessed it, another chance of snow arrives Tuesday with a high of 25 degrees.

Another substantial snowfall could come next weekend, Richardson said.

STAFF REPORTS