Minnesota Weather: Friday Snowstorm to Hit Twin Cities the Hardest

TWIN CITIES, MN — A big snowstorm is expected Friday into early Saturday across Minnesota, with the Twin Cities getting hit the hardest. The metro could see snowfalls in the 8-to-10-inch range in total.

The National Weather Service upgraded its winter storm watch to a winter storm warning in effect from noon Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Expect snow to develop around noon Friday and then diminish Saturday morning with blowing and drifting through the afternoon. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 10 inches are expected across the region.

Winds gusting as high as 30 mph will cause patchy blowing and drifting snow. Motorists should plan on difficult driving conditions, especially for the evening commute.

Following the snow, the coldest air since January 2014 will arrive with widespread lows 20 below zero Saturday night and wind chills of 30 to 45 below by early Sunday morning.

Remember: The cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little as 30 minutes to exposed skin.

Weekend forecast

Overnight Thursday

Snow, mainly after 2 a.m. Temperature rising to around 10 by 4 a.m. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Friday

Snow. High near 14. East southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Friday night

Snow. Low around 5. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Saturday

A 50 percent chance of snow before noon. Mostly cloudy and cold, with a temperature falling to around -3 by 5pm. North northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Saturday night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 19 below zero. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday

Sunny and cold, with a high near 6 below zero. West wind around 5 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon.

Sunday night

Partly cloudy, with a temperature falling to near 8 below zero by 8 p.m., then rising to around 2 below zero during the remainder of the night. South southwest wind around 5 mph.

Stay with Patch for more weather updates.

Image via National Weather Service