Major winter storm to bring blizzard conditions to area

By Reed Anfinson

Publisher

A major winter storm will bring blizzard conditions to western Minnesota Wednesday evening into Thursday with significant travel impacts across the region, the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast Monday afternoon.

Tuesday morning the NWS issued a winter storm warning for western Minnesota for the afternoon and evening. However, conditions were supposed to worsen during the evening.

A blizzard warning was issued for Wednesday evening into Thursday. Winds are expected to gust to over 40 mph Wednesday afternoon and evening with 5 to 9 inches of snow falling.

Light snow fell Monday with winds gusting out of the northwest at 43 mph late in the afternoon. Drifting snow covered roads as temperatures warmed to 34 degrees in the afternoon. But as the wind picked up, the temperature dropped.

Another 1 to 3 inches of snow was expected to fall later Tuesday.

Monday and Tuesday’s wintery weather was just a prelude to what the NWS says is headed this way. Most locations in west central Minnesota can expect to see at least a foot of snow by the time the storm system passes through Thursday night.

“The worst conditions will be Wednesday evening through Thursday, as heavy snow combines with northeast wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph, with some areas in western Minnesota seeing gusts near 50 mph,” the NWS said. “This will lead to significant drifting snow, and whiteout conditions in open areas.”

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