Minnesota Weather: Up To 5 Inches Of Snow Expected

TWIN CITIES, MN — Here it comes. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for parts of central and souther Minnesota, including Dakota County. Up to 5 inches of accumulating snow is possible Friday night.

Areas north of Interstate 94 won't be hit quite as hard by the snowstorm, but could still see up to 2 inches.

The winter weather advisory spans areas generally south of Interstate 94 in Minnesota and includes Carver, Scott, Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Goodhue, Blue Earth, Waseca, Steele, Martin, Faribault, and Freeborn counties.

Snow will develop over west central Minnesota late this afternoon and expand south and east across central and southern Minnesota tonight, according to the National Weather Service.

Other parts of the metro

The snowstorm will hit the south metro the hardest, but the north, west, and east metro could also see up to 2 inches as well.

NWS has issued a hazardous weather outlook for much of central Minnesota, including Hennepin, Anoka, Ramsey, and Washington counties.

Total accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are expected in the advisory area, with isolated 5 inch amounts as well.

Brisk northerly winds will also accompany the snow, which will likely result in reduced visibilities and areas of blowing snow.

"If you can leave a bit early, it wouldn't be a bad idea," says the NWS.

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Image via National Weather Service