WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 6 AM CST SATURDAY
Urgent - Winter Weather Message
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1258 AM CST Thu Dec 24 2009
, Winter Storm Warning For Central And Southern Minnesota And
Portions Of West Central Wisconsin Continues,
.A Major Storm System Producing Heavy Snow, Potentially Near
Record In Some Locations, And Having Considerable Impacts On
Holiday Ground And Air Travel, Continues Across Central And
Southern Minnesota And West Central Wisconsin Overnight.
Snowfall Amounts Of Two To Five Inches Have Been Reported Thus Far Across
Central And Southern Minnesota, With Slightly Lower Amounts In
The One To Two Inch Range Over West Central Wisconsin. The Intensity Of The
Snowfall Will Lighten Slightly For A Period Overnight, But Re-
Intensify Again By Mid Day Thursday. Freezing Drizzle And Sleet
Are Also Possible Overnight And Thursday, Mainly From Southern
Minnesota Across West Central Wisconsin.
The Next Batch Of Heavy Snow Is Expected To Develop Across West
Central Wisconsin By The Noon Hour On Thursday, And Blossom
Across Central And Southern Minnesota Between 2 And 5 PM CST.
After The Heavier Snow Begins On Thursday, It Will Continue
Through Christmas Day. A Mix Of Snow, Freezing Rain, And
Sleet, Will Continue To Be A Threat Across South Central
Minnesota Into West Central Wisconsin Through Christmas Day. Minor
Ice Accumulations Will Happen Where This Occurs.
Extreme Snowfall Accumulations Are Forecast With This Anomalous
And Long Duration Storm System. These Accumulations Will Likely Be In
Excess Of One Foot, With 20 Inches Or More In Some Locations. A
Winter Storm Warning Is In Effect For All Of Minnesota And All Of
Western Wisconsin. Winter Storm Warnings Are In Effect For Central
And Southern Minnesota, As Well As West Central
Wisconsin, Through Christmas Night.
The Center Of The Major Storm System Will Move From The
Southern Plains Tonight, To Iowa By Christmas Morning, And
Become Nearly Stationary Through Christmas Night.
Winds Will Generally Be From The East Northeast At 15 To 25 Mph
Through Tonight. These Will Increase And Turn More
Northerly As The Center Of The System Approaches. The Heavy Wet
Nature Of The Snowfall Is Likely To Keep Blowing Snow Restricted
To Only The Open Rural Areas For The First Half Of This Event.
Blowing Snow Is Most Probable In West Central And South Central
Minnesota During The Latter Half Of The Event, From Thursday
Night Through Christmas Night.
Again, Total Accumulations Are Highly Likely To Exceed One Foot
Over Central And Southern Minnesota And Far Western
Wisconsin, With Scattered Amounts In Excess Of 20 Inches
Probable. This Event May Become Comparable To The Halloween Snow
Storm Of 1991. Given The Timing Of This System, Holiday Road And
Air Travel Will Be Significantly Impacted.
Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns-
Benton-Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Swift-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-Meeker-
Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-Mcleod-Carver-Scott-
Watonwan-Blue Earth-Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn-Polk-
Barron-Rusk-St. Croix-
Including The Cities Of, Alexandria, Long Prairie,
Little Falls, Princeton, Mora, Morris, Glenwood, St. Cloud,
Foley, Elk River, Cambridge, Center City, Benson,
Montevideo, Willmar, Litchfield, Monticello, Minneapolis,
Blaine, St. Paul, Stillwater, Hutchinson, Chaska, Shakopee,
St. James, Mankato, Waseca, Owatonna, Fairmont, Blue Earth,
Albert Lea, Amery, Balsam Lake, Rice Lake, Barron,
Ladysmith, Hudson, New Richmond
1258 AM CST Thu Dec 24 2009
, Winter Storm Warning Remains In Effect Until 6 AM Cst
Saturday,
A Winter Storm Warning Remains In Effect Until 6 AM CST Saturday.
* Timing, Snow Will Continue Overnight Across Central Minnesota
And West Central Wisconsin. Although Snowfall Intensity Will
Lighten Somewhat Overnight, Heavy Snow Is Expected To Redevelop
On Thursday, And Persist Through Christmas Day.
* Accumulations, Significant Amounts Of Snow Will Occur With More
Periods Of Heavy Snow Likely As The Storm Intensifies Thursday
Afternoon Into Friday. Snow Amounts Of Two To Five Inches Have
Been Observed. Total Snowfall Accumulations By Saturday Morning
Will Likely Exceed One Foot In Many Areas, With Scattered
Totals In Excess Of 20 Inches Probable.
* Surface Visibility Will Be Reduced As The Event Continues Due
To Increasing Wind Speeds And Blowing Snow, Mainly In Open
Rural Areas.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions,
A Winter Storm Warning For Heavy Snow Means Severe Winter Weather
Conditions Are Expected Or Occurring. Significant Amounts Of
Snow Are Forecast That Will Make Travel Dangerous. Only Travel In
An Emergency. If You Must Travel, Keep An Extra Flashlight,
Food, And Water In Your Vehicle In Case Of An Emergency.
&&
Issue Time:12/24/2009 12:58:00 AM
Valid Until:12/24/2009 9:00:00 AM