A storm in the making, followed by an arctic blast

Posted at 6:19 PM on January 9, 2013 by Craig Edwards
Filed under: Forecast models, Winter 2012-13, Winter storms

Winter Storm Watches have been posted from eastern Wyoming to northwest Minnesota in anticipation of a large swath of snow to streak east and north on Thursday night through Saturday morning. Impacts will be felt the hardest in eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota on Friday night and Saturday.

Near blizzard conditions are possible late Friday night and Saturday that would include Grand Forks, Fargo, Thief River Falls, Roseau and Detroit Lakes.

Area covered by Winter Storm Watch. Source:NWS Grand Forks, ND

A portion of the statement from the National Weather Service in Grand Forks:

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE HIGHEST IN THE DEVILS LAKE
TO ROSEAU AREA WHERE 8 TO 10 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. 6 TO 8 INCHES
WILL BE POSSIBLE BETWEEN THAT AREA SOUTH TO A VALLEY CITY TO
BEMIDJI LINE. LIGHTER ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE FOUND IN
SOUTHEASTERN NORTH DAKOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

* WIND CHILL VALUES OF 25 TO 30 BELOW ZERO WILL BE POSSIBLE WEST
OF THE RED RIVER LATE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING.

This storm system is forecast to track through central Nebraska on Friday and then move into central Minnesota later on Friday night.

Source:NOAA/NWS

Updated thinking on the most likely area to receive eight or more inches of snow Friday afternoon through Saturday morning:

The GFS model places the center of lowest pressure in northern Minnesota on Saturday morning.

Source:NOAA/College of Dupage
A blast of arctic air will take your breath away on Saturday and have you wearing the layered look on Sunday.

This nice image from NOAA's GOES shows the snow cover over the region and the urban area of the Twin Cities.

1130 a.m. CST view from space. Source:NOAA

Looks like an active, more January-like weather pattern in store next week.

GFS model forecast temperatures at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
Source:NOAA/College of Dupage

Highs are expected to be in the 30s for a couple more days in the Twin Cities, with Perhaps a shot at 40 F on Friday at the International Airport of Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Craig Edwards

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