textproduct: Twin Cities

KEY MESSAGES

- Dangerous travel conditions continue this evening. Winds will strengthen further this evening, leading to widespread blowing snow and whiteout conditions.

- Blizzard Warnings and Winter Storm Warnings are in effect across Minnesota and Wisconsin. Non-essential travel is not advised.

- Colder air returns midweek along with another chance or two of accumulating snow.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 335 PM CST Sun Dec 28 2025

Blizzard conditions are occurring across much of southern and western Minnesota this afternoon. Peak wind gusts have reached the 50s at several locations, with the highest so far being 60 mph in Morris. Forecast soundings and SPC mesoanalysis suggest winds will continue to strengthen some this evening as increasing 850 mb flow expands eastward. Wind gusts around 45 kts are likely across southern and western MN, tapering to 35 to 40 kts across the rest of the area. This will lead to widespread blowing snow, but the worst conditions are expected in the open areas of the Blizzard Warning. Winds will ease Monday morning. Areas of blowing snow will persist through the morning, then become more sporadic and localized by afternoon. It's possible without the benefit of falling snow to aid in reducing the visibility, visibilities may improve enough to drop the Blizzard Warning earlier than 6 or 9 AM.

Radar indicates the dry slot has halted its northern progression over west central MN. The brief respite in steadier snow will be short-lived. Snow to the north across northwest MN and eastern ND will begin wrapping around the low to the south late this afternoon. Moderate to occasionally heavy snow continues across central and eastern MN and western WI with visibilities less than 1/2 mile in many locations. The steady snow will continue this evening, then end from northwest to southeast in the 9 PM to 3 AM timeframe. An additional 3 to 7 inches are expected areawide, with the heaviest falling in eastern MN and WI.

Temperatures won't recover much for Monday with highs in the single digits to low teens. High pressure will slide south across the Plains Monday with the surface ridge passing across MN Monday evening. Temperatures may drop below zero in the evening, then slowly rise overnight as return flow begins. A clipper tracking east southeast toward the northern Great Lakes may bring a bit of light snow to areas north of I-94 Tuesday morning. Minor accumulation is possible, especially across northern MN/WI. Another clipper will slide southeast Wednesday may bring with it a better chance of an inch or two. The rest of the period looks rather dry and cold. Temperatures into next week will remain below normal.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 523 PM CST Sun Dec 28 2025

Light to moderate snow and gusty northwest winds continue this evening with IFR/LIFR conditions. Snowfall rates should be less than 1/2" per hour, though localized banding may lead to brief periods of heavier snowfall rates. Falling snow will taper off from west to east through early Monday morning, but strong winds on the backside of the low will likely continue to cause blowing snow and vis restrictions. Winds will quickly diminish by Monday evening, and it's more likely that the low clouds could begin to scatter out throughout the day Monday. Confidence is not high, but trends have favored some sort of clearing so have reflected that in the latest TAFs.

KMSP...The strongest winds are yet to come, though we have adjusted them down slightly given the slow response today so far. Gusts up to 35 kts are still possible, though may not be as frequent this evening. Stronger forcing to the west will shift over the Twin Cities metro this evening, leading to another round of persistent snowfall through around 06z.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ TUE...VFR, slight chc MVFR/-SN. Wind SW to NW 5-10kts. WED...MVFR, chc IFR/-SN. Wind NW 10-15kts. THU...VFR. Wind NW 5-10kts.

MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

MN...Blizzard Warning until 6 AM CST Monday for Chippewa-Douglas- Kandiyohi-Lac Qui Parle-McLeod-Meeker-Pope-Redwood- Renville-Stearns-Stevens-Swift-Todd-Wright-Yellow Medicine. Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM CST Monday for Benton-Kanabec- Mille Lacs-Morrison-Sherburne. Winter Storm Warning until 9 AM CST Monday for Anoka-Chisago- Dakota-Goodhue-Hennepin-Isanti-Ramsey-Washington. Blizzard Warning until 9 AM CST Monday for Blue Earth-Brown- Carver-Faribault-Freeborn-Le Sueur-Martin-Nicollet-Rice- Scott-Sibley-Steele-Waseca-Watonwan. WI...Winter Storm Warning until 9 AM CST Monday for Barron-Chippewa- Dunn-Eau Claire-Pepin-Pierce-Polk-Rusk-St. Croix.