Winter storm will bring rain, snow and ice to much of Minnesota

Shovels, snow blowers and melting ice – Minnesotans will need them over the next two days as the first major storm of 2023 moves through the state and drops rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow .

A winter storm warning takes effect Monday afternoon in western Minnesota and will cover an area extending from the southwestern part of the state through the Twin Cities to St. Cloud and into the evening. western Wisconsin. The warning in effect through Tuesday evening comes with the potential for 4 to 8 inches of snow in the metro area while 6 to 10 inches could accumulate in a swath of central and western Minnesota. , from Hutchinson to Redwood Falls to Marshall, the National says the weather service.

Some isolated pockets of a foot or more of snow are possible with snow falling at 1 to 2 inches per hour Tuesday, the weather service said.

With temperatures on either side of freezing, rain, freezing rain and ice pellets are expected to mix with the snow and create slippery conditions. Up to a tenth of an inch could accumulate in central, east-central and south-central Minnesota, the weather service said.

An ice storm warning covering southern Minnesota goes into effect Monday at 6 p.m. Ice accumulations of almost a quarter inch are expected in places such as Mankato, Albert Lea and Fairmont.

The worst conditions statewide will be Tuesday morning and early afternoon with winds blowing between 20 and 35 mph, creating low visibility, the weather service said.

“Please adjust your travel plans for Tuesday if possible,” the weather service warned. “Travel could be very difficult.”

Travel impacts could last until Wednesday morning when the storm begins to subside.

Behind the storm, calmer conditions are expected Thursday through the weekend with sunny skies Thursday, Friday and Sunday. There is a slight chance of snow on Saturday. Highs during the period will be in the teens and 20s, the weather service said.