Winter storm warnings for Minnesota, Wisconsin; heavy snow and strong winds

Updated: 10:30 a.m.

This will be a strong winter storm.

Snow will spread across much of Minnesota and portions of Wisconsin late Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon, then continue Sunday evening. The snow will be heavy at times Sunday afternoon and evening. Winds will be ramping up today, and visibilities will be reduced in the falling snow.

The snow changes to a rain/snow mix in far southern Minnesota sometime Sunday evening then eventually to all rain there.

Much of Minnesota will have snow overnight Sunday night and Monday. Far southern Minnesota will see mainly rain Monday. The Twin Cities metro area plus parts of west-central Wisconsin could see snow continue into Sunday evening, then a rain/snow mix or rain later Sunday night, followed by mainly rain on Monday. The heaviest snow in the Twin Cities metro area is expected to be Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening.

Periods of snow plus strong winds could continue in much of western and northern Minnesota into early Tuesday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern from 1 p.m. Sunday to 11 p.m. Monday:

How much snow?

There could be a swath of double-digit snow totals from west-central Minnesota through central and northeastern Minnesota Sunday into Monday and Tuesday. Parts of northwestern Wisconsin will also see double-digit totals.

Snow totals will be lower in areas that see a transition to rain or a rain/snow mix late Sunday into Monday.

Here are forecast snow totals Sunday through Monday:

Parts of northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin will also see some double-digit snow totals:

Minnesota road conditions can be found here. Wisconsin road conditions can be found here.

Winter storm warnings

Winter storm warnings begin today in most of Minnesota and in parts of Wisconsin:

The winter storm warning begins at 10 a.m. Sunday and continues until 4 a.m. Monday in the Twin Cities metro area. Here’s a winter storm discussion from the NWS, plus details of the winter storm warning in the Twin Cities metro area:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 340 AM CDT Sun Mar 24 2024 ...WINTER STORM ARRIVES TODAY BRINGING HEAVY WET SNOW AND STRONG WIND. THE WORST CONDITIONS WILL BE FROM 12PM SUNDAY THROUGH 6AM MONDAY MORNING... .The main storm system will arrive on later today as a heavy band of snow develops across Iowa and lifts northward across the region. Snowfall rates of 1 inch per hour are likely, with 2 inches per hour possible, especially along and east of I-35. Winds will be out of the east at 25 to 35 mph, which will lead to very low visibility. Snow will become more widespread this afternoon and evening. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for areas along and north a line extending from New Ulm to Red Wing in Minnesota and all of west- central Wisconsin. A Winter Weather Advisory is in place for Sunday for the Mankato area southward to the Iowa border. On Sunday night, warmer air will cause snow to change over to rain across southern Minnesota, and this warm air will expand on Monday. Areas in eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin could also change over to rain. Areas in western Minnesota will likely remain all snow. There is uncertainty on where the rain, snow line will set up. On Monday night and Tuesday, colder air will move in causing a change over back to snow across much of the region. A couple more inches of accumulation is possible, but the main concern is for strong northwest winds of 30 to 40 mph to cause blowing snow across western Minnesota. There is also a small chance that some ice could mix in at times Monday night as temperatures drop below freezing. The storm system will exit on Tuesday. MNZ058>063-068>070-241645- /O.CON.KMPX.WS.W.0005.240324T1500Z-240325T0900Z/ Meeker-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-Carver-Scott- Dakota- Including the cities of Litchfield, Monticello, Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater, Chanhassen, Chaska, Victoria, Shakopee, and Hastings 340 AM CDT Sun Mar 24 2024 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 AM CDT MONDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 9 inches. Winds could gust 30 to 35 mph. * WHERE...The Twin Cities metro area. * WHEN...From 10 AM Sunday to 4 AM CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. High snowfall rates and patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This will be a heavy wet snow. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

Snow forecasts for the Twin Cities metro area could be adjusted up or down, based on the timing of the changeover to a rain/snow mix or rain Sunday night/early Monday. In general, snow totals from this storm will tend to be higher in the north metro than the south metro.

The winter storm warning begins Sunday morning and continues until Tuesday morning in much of western and central Minnesota.

Here are winter storm warning details for Alexandria, Willmar and St. Cloud:

MNZ041>045-047>050-054>057-064-241645- /O.CON.KMPX.WS.W.0005.240324T1500Z-240326T1200Z/ Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns- Benton-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-Yellow Medicine- Including the cities of Alexandria, Long Prairie, Little Falls, Princeton, Mora, Morris, Glenwood, St Cloud, Sauk Rapids, Madison, Benson, Montevideo, Willmar, and Granite Falls 340 AM CDT Sun Mar 24 2024 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 AM CDT TUESDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 10 to 14 inches. Winds gusting 30 to 40 mph. * WHERE...Portions of central and west central Minnesota. * WHEN...From 10 AM Sunday to 7 AM CDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. High snowfall rates and patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute on Monday. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This will be a heavy wet snow. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

A blizzard warning covers much of the North Shore from 1 p.m. Sunday to 7 p.m. Tuesday, with winter storm warnings from 10 a.m. Sunday to 7 p.m. Tuesday from Brainerd and Hinckley to Duluth:

The winter storm warning in International Falls and Hibbing runs from 1 p.m. Sunday to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Here are details of the blizzard warning along the North Shore in southern Lake County and southern Cook County:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Duluth MN 358 AM CDT Sun Mar 24 2024 MNZ020-021-242100- /O.CON.KDLH.BZ.W.0002.240324T1800Z-240327T0000Z/ Southern Lake-Southern Cook- Including the cities of Two Harbors, Silver Bay, and Grand Marais 358 AM CDT Sun Mar 24 2024 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM CDT TUESDAY... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations of 12 to 18 inches and ice accumulations of around one to two tenths of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph. * WHERE...Southern Lake and Southern Cook Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Grand Portage Reservation. * WHEN...From 1 PM this afternoon to 7 PM CDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice. Travel could be nearly impossible. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Blizzard conditions are most likely from Sunday night through Monday afternoon. Snow may change over to freezing rain Monday night and early Tuesday morning resulting in ice accumulation up to two tenths of an inch. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin.

Here are details of the winter storm warning that includes Brainerd and Duluth:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Duluth MN 358 AM CDT Sun Mar 24 2024 MNZ025-033>038-WIZ001-242100- /O.CON.KDLH.WS.W.0004.240324T1500Z-240327T0000Z/ North Cass-South Cass-Crow Wing-Northern Aitkin-South Aitkin- Carlton and South St. Louis-Pine-Douglas- Including the cities of Walker, Pine River, Brainerd, Hill City, Aitkin, Duluth, Pine City, Hinckley, and Superior 358 AM CDT Sun Mar 24 2024 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CDT TUESDAY... * WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of 10 to 13 inches and ice accumulations of around one to two tenths of an inch. * WHERE...In Minnesota, North Cass, South Cass, Crow Wing, Northern Aitkin, South Aitkin, Carlton and South St. Louis and Pine Counties. In Wisconsin, Douglas County. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Fond du Lac Band and the Mille Lacs Band, Big Sandy Lake, Hinckley, East Lake and, Lena Lake areas. * WHEN...From 10 AM this morning to 7 PM CDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Near blizzard conditions possible Monday, especially in the Twin Ports. Snow may change to freezing rain Monday night and early Tuesday morning with up to two tenths of an inch of ice accumulation. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin.

You can hear updated weather information for Minnesota and western Wisconsin on the MPR News network. 

Updated forecast information will be posted by the National Weather Service offices in the Twin Cities, Duluth, La Crosse, Wis., Sioux Falls, S.D. and Grand Forks, N.D.

Tuesday snow potential

Cold air spreads back over the Twin Cities metro area on Tuesday, accompanied by some periods of snow. Periods of snow are also expected elsewhere in Minnesota and in portions of Wisconsin on Tuesday.

NOAA’s North American Mesoscale forecast model shows the potential precipitation pattern from 4 a.m. Tuesday to 6 p.m. Tuesday:

Temperature trends

The average Twin Cities high temperature is 45 degrees this time of year. The Twin Cities and much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin will see Sunday highs in the 30s. Parts of far northern Minnesota will stay in the 20s.

Southeastern Minnesota will have the mildest temps on Monday, with cooler 20s and 30s to the northwest:

Tuesday highs will be in the 20s across much of Minnesota, with 30s in the Twin Cities and southeastern Minnesota:

Twin Cities metro area highs are projected to be around 30 degrees on Wednesday, followed by upper 30s Thursday then mid 40s on Friday.

Programming note

You can hear my live weather updates on MPR News at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 4:39 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.  We will have extra weather updates this weekend.