Residents across the northern metro suburbs and just beyond woke up to what was left of a half foot of snow that fell late Thursday into Friday, but it likely was just a preview of what is to come over the next couple of days.
St. Francis, Chisago City and Zimmerman led the way with 7.5 inches each, while the Anoka County cities of East Bethel, Nowthen and Oak Grove picked up 6 inches or more, according to reports received by the National Weather Service.
Lighter amounts fell in the south and east metro cities of Lakeville, Oakdale, Woodbury and Savage where 2 to 3 inches accumulated, the Weather Service said.
All that may pale in comparison when the next system arrives Saturday night into Sunday. Early models predict the metro is in line for 6 to 10 inches of snow with heftier amounts falling to the west and north of the Twin Cities.
The metro area’s largest snowfall of the season happened on Valentine’s Day when 6.9 inches of snow whitened the landscape. That is almost certainly going to be eclipsed. While it is still too early to say exactly how much, “we could easily see amounts in the double digits,” the Weather Service said.
A winter storm watch is in effect for Sunday and Monday for nearly all of Minnesota with “high confidence” of six to 12 inches likely, the Weather Service said. One model from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hinted that 18 inches or more could fall in places such as Brainerd, Duluth and Silver Bay.
Metro area roads had drastically improved by late Friday morning after the slushy mix covering pavement sent scores of motorists into ditches. By 6 a.m., the State Patrol had responded to 175 crashes statewide since Thursday night and 101 spin-outs.
Minnesota Department of Transportation crews fanned out across the metro to clear away the first measurable snowfall in the Twin Cities since Feb. 27 when a tenth of an inch fell at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
