A blustery day is on tap for Tuesday as chilly air moves into the metro area and southern Minnesota ahead of what may be the first snow of the season later this week.
A wind advisory is in effect for the Twin Cities and most of southern and central Minnesota and western Wisconsin until 6 p.m. Tuesday, as winds will blow at 25 miles per hour throughout the day with gusts as high as 40 to 45 miles per hour, the National Weather Service said.
"Unsecured, light objects may be blown around," the weather service said in its advisory that went into effect at 7 a.m.
Cloudy skies will accompany the winds Tuesday morning, giving way to gradual clearing by afternoon, said meteorologist Eric Ahasic.
After a sunny Wednesday, rain showers will move into the metro by Thursday night and Friday with a few snowflakes possible. While no significant accumulation is expected, lawns could have a white hue.
"It's just a tease that winter is coming," Ahasic said. "But the ground is warm so there is nothing to worry about. It's tough to get accumulating snow in October."
But it has happened. In 1991, a monster storm on Halloween dropped 8.2 inches in the Twin Cities that day, and nearly 28 inches piled up by the time the storm dissipated three days later.
Snow in October is slightly uncommon. The average date for the first snowfall in the metro area is Nov. 2, Ahasic said.
