To make matters even more interesting, models are (consistently) printing out a plowable snow risk for Sunday, mainly PM hours, along the leading edge of next week's polar plunge. It's too early to forecast specific amounts, and it will depend on the exact track of this next Alberta Clipper, but if the forecast holds I could see enough snow to shovel and plow during the PM hours Sunday into Monday morning. Stay tuned for updates.
A few words to the wise:
1). If your traveling south/east today plan on running into heavy snow from Iowa into southern Wisconsin. If your travels take you into the Dakotas ground blizzards are possible later today and tonight. Either way, I would have a winter survival kit in my vehicle and not deviate from the interstates unless I absolutely had to.
2). Thursday and Friday will be numbing, but if dressed properly and moving around you should be just fine. Try to avoid exposed skin - frostbite on unprotected flesh will be possible within a few minutes.
3). Keep an eye on Sunday-Monday snowfall predictions. Travel may be very tough late Sunday into Monday morning, depending on the track of this next clipper. I've found that the colder the air, the stronger the clipper, which leads me to believe we may, in fact, see a few inches of powder late Sunday into Monday.
4). Temperatures bottom out by the middle of next week with a few nights colder than -15F in the MSP metro. Not record-setting, but a vague, burning reminder that it can still get plenty cold at this latitude.
We'll keep updating the weather on your weather station, News-Talk 830, WCCO. I hope you'll keep tuning in for the latest!
- Paul Douglas
