Winter Weather Advisory Tuesday Into Wednesday For 3-5 Inches Of Snow

Looks like Mother Nature has one more round of snow in the cards before the end of 2020. This snow will move in during the day on Tuesday from southwest to northeast, with snow expected to start in the Twin Cities around 1-3 PM. Snow will continue to move through during the overnight hours, ending before the morning commute Wednesday in the Twin Cities but lingering in northern Minnesota during the morning hours Wednesday. (Forecast loop: precipitation between 6 AM Tuesday and Noon Wednesday. Credit: WeatherBell).

Overall this looks to bring about 3-5" of snow to most of central and southern Minnesota, with the forecast as of Monday evening showing about 3-4" across the metro. The heaviest amounts will be to our south and southeast across portions of Iowa and Wisconsin, where some 6-9" totals will be possible.

Due to the snow threat Tuesday into Wednesday, most of the state is under a Winter Weather Advisory. In the metro, it is in place from 9 AM Tuesday through 6 AM Wednesday.

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Well, 2020 is almost over - finally. Unfortunately, the problems of the world don't just magically disappear as we flip the calendar... but let's ignore that for the moment. As we wake up in 2021 on Friday, temperatures will be in the single digits across much of the state. Highs will climb into the teens and 20s across Minnesota Friday with quiet and partly sunny skies.

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The Fine Unsettling Art of Driving on Snow
By Paul Douglas

Driving on snow is an acquired skill: more like surfing or snowboarding on 4 wheels. You learn to treat the accelerator and brakes like eggshells. "It's all about the gentle tap" my father advised 16-year old me, driving a stick shift VW bug. You're heard this a zillion times, but keep your lights on, as much to BE SEEN as to see.

Unlike last week's snowy maelstrom, snow later today will not be accompanied by tropical storm force winds. I expect 3-5 inches before tapering Wednesday morning; plowable, but without big drifts, easier to get off the roads.

This may be the last significant snow event for some time. Models show a dull pattern, with a January Thaw next week - right on schedule. Enjoy some perfect powder while you can.

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Paul's Extended Twin Cities Forecast

WEDNESDAY: Slippery start. Flurries taper. Wake up 20. High 25. Chance of precipitation 60%. Wind NW 10-20 mph.

THURSDAY: Partly sunny, easier driving. Wake up 15. High 23. Chance of precipitation 10%. Wind S 10-20 mph.

FRIDAY: Blue sky, go play in the snow. Wake up 8. High 23. Chance of precipitation 10%. Wind N 8-13 mph.

SATURDAY: Plenty of sunshine, light winds. Wake up 9. High 25. Chance of precipitation 10%. Wind W 5-10 mph.

SUNDAY: Some sun, a milder breeze kicks in. Wake up 14. High 30. Chance of precipitation 10%. Wind SW 8-13 mph.

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This Day in Weather History
December 29th

1999: Minneapolis soars to a high temperature of 53 degrees.

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Average Temperatures & Precipitation for Minneapolis
December 29th

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Sunrise/Sunset Times for Minneapolis
December 27th

Sunrise: 7:51 AM
Sunset: 4:40 PM

*Length Of Day: 8 hours, 48 minutes and 59 seconds
*Daylight GAINED Since Yesterday: ~0 minutes and 37 seconds

*When Do We Climb To 9 Hours Of Daylight? January 9th (9 hours, 0 minutes, and 51 seconds)
*When Is The Latest Sunrise?: December 29th-January 5th (7:51 AM)
*When Is Sunset At/After 5 PM? January 17th (5:00 PM)

While conditions will start quiet Tuesday morning with lows around zero, snow chances will increase throughout the day - particularly mid-afternoon onward. Highs will climb into the low 20s on Tuesday.

We'll keep tracking that snow as it moves in on Tuesday across the state, otherwise cloudier skies are expected. Highs will be in the teens across much of central and northern Minnesota, with 20s expected in southern Minnesota.

Highs will be a few degrees below average across eastern Minnesota Tuesday, with highs up to 5F degrees above average in northwestern portions of the state. The average high for December 29th in the Twin Cities is 24F.

Highs will remain in the low 20s Wednesday before dipping behind the snow, stuck back in the teens for Thursday. We should see temperatures climb back into the low 20s for the first couple days of 2021.

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Through Wednesday evening, 1-3" of rain will be possible across portions of the Southern Plains. Up to 7" of snow could fall across areas of the upper Midwest, particularly from Iowa into Wisconsin, with several inches of snow possible downwind of the Great Lakes. Several feet of snow will be possible out in the Rockies and Cascades.

Here's a closer look at the potential snow totals across the upper Midwest. Some icing will also be possible, but most areas that do see ice should see less than 0.10" accumulate.

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10 science records broken in 2020

More from Live Science: "This year was filled with record-breaking scientific discoveries. Some earned the title of "oldest," including the 7 billion-year-old stardust found to be the oldest material on our planet and a 31,000-year-old burial that held the remains of the oldest-ever found identical twins. Others earned the title of "longest," including a bird that traveled for 11 days straight from Alaska to New Zealand and a lightning bolt that stretched for more than 440 miles (700 kilometers)."

More from National Parks Traveler: "Climate change and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic topped the concerns of 2,000 Americans who were asked to name the global issue that most concerned them on a daily basis. Most troubling to them of specific environmental issues were ocean garbage and water pollution, though habitat destruction was not far behind. When asked which problem they would like to solve in an instant, water pollution was cited by 50 percent of the respondents, while 47.5 percent also wanted to solve the plight of endangered species and clean up the Pacific "Garbage Patch.""

How a 'tree mortgage' scheme could turn an Indian town carbon neutral

More from The Guardian: "In the misty, hilly terrain of Wayanad, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, the people with any access to land in the quiet town of Meenangadi have been out counting their trees. Sheeja CG, a 46-year-old farmer, has lived among coffee, coconut and pepper plantations all her life but last month she increased her income dramatically by mortgaging 53 of her trees at the local bank, in return for a sum of 2,650 rupees (£26.96), or 50 rupees each. She was one of the first beneficiaries of the state-sponsored scheme."

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Thanks for checking in and have a great day! Don't forget to follow me on Twitter (@dkayserwx) and like me on Facebook (Meteorologist D.J. Kayser).