Alert archive / Minnesota / Blizzard Watches in 2009

Blizzard Watch 3, NWS Twin Cities, MN

December 6, 20097 counties in Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this blizzard watch at Dec 6, 2009, 3:19 PM CST for 7 counties in Minnesota. It took effect at Dec 8, 2009, 12:00 PM CST. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Dec 6, 2009, 3:19 PM CST (21:19 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 8, 2009, 12:00 PM CST
Expired
Dec 7, 2009, 4:22 PM CST
In force
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN

Counties Blue Earth County, MN, Faribault County, MN, Freeborn County, MN, Martin County, MN, Steele County, MN, Waseca County, MN, Watonwan County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 112 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:23 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 112 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2009-12-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2009-12-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -55 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
802 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
71 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-55 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
29 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WWUS43 KMPX 062119
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
319 PM CST SUN DEC 6 2009

...POTENTIAL WINTER STORM TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.A BLIZZARD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY FOR FAR SOUTHERN AREAS OF MINNESOTA. THE BLIZZARD WATCH
STRETCHES FROM ST. JAMES TO OWATONNA ON SOUTHWARD TO THE IOWA
BORDER. 

A WINTER STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY FOR MUCH OF THE REST OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA...ALL OF EAST
CENTRAL MINNESOTA...INCLUDING THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN
AREA...AS WELL AS ALL OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. 

A SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER OKLAHOMA
ON TUESDAY. THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL LIFT NORTHEAST AND
INTENSIFY...REACHING THE CHICAGO AREA...BY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

SNOW IS EXPECTED TO OVERSPREAD THE REGION ON TUESDAY AND CONTINUE
THROUGH WEDNESDAY. HEAVY SNOW IS POSSIBLE ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHERN
AND EASTERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN FROM TUESDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY. 

IN ADDITION...STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW THE
STORM TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...CAUSING CONSIDERABLE BLOWING
AND DRIFTING SNOW. AS A RESULT...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP
OVER FAR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. 

CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE FORECAST FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION
CONCERNING THIS POTENTIAL WINTER STORM.

MNZ082>085-091>093-070530-
/O.NEW.KMPX.BZ.A.0003.091208T1800Z-091210T0600Z/
WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. JAMES...MANKATO...WASECA...
OWATONNA...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA
319 PM CST SUN DEC 6 2009

...BLIZZARD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A BLIZZARD WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

THE BLIZZARD WATCH EXTENDS FROM ST. JAMES TO OWATONNA ON SOUTHWARD
TO THE IOWA BORDER.

HEAVY SNOW AND VERY STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS...EXCEEDING 35 MPH...ARE
POSSIBLE FROM LATE TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THIS MAY RESULT IN
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ACROSS FAR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES.
THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY
DANGEROUS.

$$

MNZ045-051>053-058>063-065>070-073>078-WIZ014>016-023>028-070530-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.A.0007.091208T1800Z-091210T0600Z/
KANABEC-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-CHISAGO-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-
RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-
REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-POLK-BARRON-RUSK-
ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MORA...ELK RIVER...CAMBRIDGE...
CENTER CITY...LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...
ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...OLIVIA...HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...CHASKA...
SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...
LE SUEUR...FARIBAULT...RED WING...AMERY...BALSAM LAKE...
RICE LAKE...BARRON...LADYSMITH...HUDSON...NEW RICHMOND...
RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...DURAND...
PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
319 PM CST SUN DEC 6 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

THE WINTER STORM WATCH EXTENDS FROM REDWOOD FALLS TO MORA ON
EASTWARD...INCLUDING THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA AS WELL AS
ALL OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE FROM LATE
TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY WITH SNOW TOTALS REACHING OR EXCEEDING
SIX INCHES. 

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

$$


RAH/TDK
4 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS43 KMPX 070443
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1043 PM CST SUN DEC 6 2009

...POTENTIAL WINTER STORM TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.A BLIZZARD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY FOR FAR SOUTHERN AREAS OF MINNESOTA. THE BLIZZARD WATCH
STRETCHES FROM ST. JAMES TO OWATONNA ON SOUTHWARD TO THE IOWA
BORDER.

A WINTER STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY FOR MUCH OF THE REST OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA...
ALL OF EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...INCLUDING THE TWIN CITIES
METROPOLITAN AREA...AS WELL AS ALL OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

A SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER OKLAHOMA
ON TUESDAY. THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL LIFT NORTHEAST AND
INTENSIFY...REACHING THE CHICAGO AREA...BY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

SNOW IS EXPECTED TO OVERSPREAD THE REGION ON TUESDAY AND CONTINUE
THROUGH WEDNESDAY. HEAVY SNOW IS POSSIBLE ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHERN
AND EASTERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN FROM TUESDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

IN ADDITION...STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW THE
STORM TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...CAUSING CONSIDERABLE BLOWING
AND DRIFTING SNOW. AS A RESULT...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP
OVER FAR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE FORECAST FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION
CONCERNING THIS POTENTIAL WINTER STORM.

MNZ082>085-091>093-071245-
/O.CON.KMPX.BZ.A.0003.091208T1800Z-091210T0600Z/
WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. JAMES...MANKATO...WASECA...
OWATONNA...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA
1043 PM CST SUN DEC 6 2009

...BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

A BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

THE BLIZZARD WATCH EXTENDS FROM ST. JAMES TO OWATONNA ON
SOUTHWARD TO THE IOWA BORDER.

HEAVY SNOW AND VERY STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS...EXCEEDING 35 MPH...
ARE POSSIBLE FROM LATE TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THIS MAY RESULT
IN BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ACROSS FAR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES.
THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY
DANGEROUS.

$$

MNZ045-051>053-058>063-065>070-073>078-WIZ014>016-023>028-071245-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.A.0007.091208T1800Z-091210T0600Z/
KANABEC-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-CHISAGO-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-
RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-
REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-POLK-BARRON-RUSK-
ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MORA...ELK RIVER...CAMBRIDGE...
CENTER CITY...LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...
ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...OLIVIA...HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...CHASKA...
SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...
LE SUEUR...FARIBAULT...RED WING...AMERY...BALSAM LAKE...
RICE LAKE...BARRON...LADYSMITH...HUDSON...NEW RICHMOND...
RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...DURAND...
PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
1043 PM CST SUN DEC 6 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

THE WINTER STORM WATCH EXTENDS FROM REDWOOD FALLS TO MORA ON
EASTWARD...INCLUDING THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA AS WELL AS
ALL OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE FROM LATE
TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY WITH SNOW TOTALS REACHING OR EXCEEDING
SIX INCHES.

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

$$
000 
WWUS43 KMPX 071120
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
520 AM CST MON DEC 7 2009

...MAJOR WINTER STORM HEADING TOWARDS THE AREA BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

...ONSET OF SNOW MAY BEGIN EARLIER THAN EXPECTED...

.A BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR FAR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA....OR FOR AREAS SOUTH
OF A ST JAMES TO OWATONNA LINE. 

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST...EAST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...AS WELL AS ALL OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THIS
WINTER STORM WATCH INCLUDES THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA. 

LATEST WEATHER MODEL INFORMATION INDICATED THAT THE ONSET OF SNOW
MAY BEGIN EARLIER THAN EXPECTED...AND MAY BEGIN TO IMPACT AREAS
ALONG THE IOWA BORDER BY NOON...AND IN THE TWIN CITIES
METROPOLITAN AREA BY LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON. 

ALTHOUGH TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS REMAIN NEARLY THE SAME WITH THE
HEAVIEST SOUTH OF A FAIRMONT TO RED WING MINNESOTA...TO AN EAU
CLAIRE WISCONSIN LINE...WHERE EIGHT INCHES OR MORE IS
LIKELY BY WEDNESDAY EVENING. MODEL TRENDS OVER THE PAST 12 HOURS 
HAVE THIS STORM SYSTEM STRONGER AND MAY PRODUCE HIGHER WIND
SPEEDS DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT...AND
INTO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THIS WILL AID IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
CONSIDERABLE BLOWING SNOW AND DRIFTING SNOW AND WILL LIKELY
PRODUCE BLIZZARD...OR NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY IN
OPEN COUNTRY OF SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

TOTAL SNOWFALL IN EXCESS OF SIX INCHES IS LIKELY SOUTH OF A LINE
FROM REDWOOD FALLS TO THE FAR WESTERN SUBURBS OF THE TWIN
CITIES...TO ST. CROIX FALLS WISCONSIN. 

PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE FORECAST FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION
CONCERNING THIS MAJOR WINTER STORM.

MNZ082>085-091>093-071930-
/O.CON.KMPX.BZ.A.0003.091208T1800Z-091210T0600Z/
WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. JAMES...MANKATO...WASECA...
OWATONNA...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA
520 AM CST MON DEC 7 2009

...BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

A BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

THIS BLIZZARD WATCH EXTENDS FROM ST. JAMES TO OWATONNA ON
SOUTHWARD TO THE IOWA BORDER.

HEAVY SNOW...ALONG WITH VERY STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS...EXCEEDING
35 MPH... ARE POSSIBLE FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY.
THIS MAY RESULT IN BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ACROSS FAR SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA.

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES.
THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY
DANGEROUS.

$$

MNZ045-051>053-058>063-065>070-073>078-WIZ014>016-023>028-071930-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.A.0007.091208T1800Z-091210T0600Z/
KANABEC-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-CHISAGO-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-
RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-
REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-POLK-BARRON-RUSK-
ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MORA...ELK RIVER...CAMBRIDGE...
CENTER CITY...LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...
ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...OLIVIA...HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...CHASKA...
SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...
LE SUEUR...FARIBAULT...RED WING...AMERY...BALSAM LAKE...
RICE LAKE...BARRON...LADYSMITH...HUDSON...NEW RICHMOND...
RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...DURAND...
PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
520 AM CST MON DEC 7 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

THE WINTER STORM WATCH EXTENDS FROM REDWOOD FALLS TO MORA ON
EASTWARD...INCLUDING THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA AS WELL AS
ALL OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

SNOW AND STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE FROM LATE TUESDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY WITH SNOW TOTALS REACHING OR EXCEEDING
SIX INCHES.

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

$$

JLT
000 
WWUS43 KMPX 071717
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1117 AM CST MON DEC 7 2009

...MAJOR WINTER STORM HEADING TOWARDS THE AREA BY TUESDAY
AFTERNOON...

.A BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR FAR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA....OR FOR AREAS SOUTH
OF A ST. JAMES TO OWATONNA LINE.

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST AND EAST
CENTRAL MINNESOTA...AS WELL AS ALL OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.
THIS WINTER STORM WATCH INCLUDES THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN
AREA.

SNOW IS EXPECTED TO EXPAND NORTHWARD INTO AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
MINNESOTA NEAR THE IOWA BORDER TUESDAY MORNING. SNOW WILL THEN
EXPAND NORTHWARD INTO EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN...INCLUDING THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA...BY
TUESDAY AFTERNOON. SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY WEDNESDAY.
NORTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE AND BECOME VERY STRONG TUESDAY
EVENING THEN TURN NORTHWESTERLY AND REMAIN STRONG ON WEDNESDAY.

THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED SOUTH OF A FAIRMONT TO RED WING
MINNESOTA...TO EAU CLAIRE WISCONSIN LINE...WHERE EIGHT INCHES OR
MORE IS LIKELY BY WEDNESDAY EVENING. THE SNOWFALL AND THE
INCREASING WINDS WILL RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING
SNOW AND WILL LIKELY PRODUCE BLIZZARD...OR NEAR BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN COUNTRY OF SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA
STARTING TUESDAY EVENING.

TOTAL SNOWFALL IN EXCESS OF SIX INCHES IS LIKELY SOUTH OF A LINE
FROM REDWOOD FALLS TO THE FAR WESTERN SUBURBS OF THE TWIN
CITIES...TO ST. CROIX FALLS WISCONSIN. THE STRONG WINDS WILL
CREATE SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ACROSS THESE AREAS.

TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY BECOME VERY DIFFICULT IF NOT
IMPOSSIBLE ACROSS THE WATCH AREAS TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH THE DAY
WEDNESDAY.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE FORECAST FOR THE LATEST
INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MAJOR WINTER STORM.

MNZ082>085-091>093-080130-
/O.CON.KMPX.BZ.A.0003.091208T1800Z-091210T0600Z/
WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. JAMES...MANKATO...WASECA...
OWATONNA...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA
1117 AM CST MON DEC 7 2009

...BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

A BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

THIS BLIZZARD WATCH EXTENDS FROM ST. JAMES TO OWATONNA ON
SOUTHWARD TO THE IOWA BORDER.

SNOW WILL BEGIN ACROSS THE BLIZZARD WATCH AREA TUESDAY MORNING AND
BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES TUESDAY AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY. NORTHEAST
WINDS WILL THEN BECOME VERY STRONG TUESDAY EVENING LIKELY
RESULTING IN BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ACROSS FAR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES.
THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY
DANGEROUS.

$$

MNZ045-051>053-058>063-065>070-073>078-WIZ014>016-023>028-080130-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.A.0007.091208T1800Z-091210T0600Z/
KANABEC-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-CHISAGO-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-
RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-
REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-POLK-BARRON-RUSK-
ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MORA...ELK RIVER...CAMBRIDGE...
CENTER CITY...LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...
ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...OLIVIA...HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...CHASKA...
SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...
LE SUEUR...FARIBAULT...RED WING...AMERY...BALSAM LAKE...
RICE LAKE...BARRON...LADYSMITH...HUDSON...NEW RICHMOND...
RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...DURAND...
PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
1117 AM CST MON DEC 7 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

THE WINTER STORM WATCH EXTENDS FROM REDWOOD FALLS TO MORA ON
EASTWARD...INCLUDING THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA AS WELL AS
ALL OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ACROSS THE WINTER STORM WATCH AREA
TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES TUESDAY EVENING
THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NORTHEASTERLY WINDS WILL BECOME VERY STRONG
TUESDAY EVENING THEN GRADUALLY SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST WEDNESDAY.
THIS WILL CAUSE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW. SNOW
TOTALS MAY REACH OR EXCEED SIX INCHES.

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

$$

MDB/RAH/MTF/BAP
000 
WWUS43 KMPX 072222
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
422 PM CST MON DEC 7 2009

...MAJOR WINTER STORM TO IMPACT THE AREA TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY...

.A BLIZZARD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTH CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...INCLUDING THE INTERSTATE 90 CORRIDOR...FROM TUESDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. A WINTER STORM WARNING HAS
BEEN ISSUED FOR MUCH OF EASTERN MINNESOTA...INCLUDING THE ENTIRE
TWIN CITIES METRO AREA...AND ALL OF WESTERN WISCONSIN FROM TUESDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. IN ADDITION...A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR SEVERAL COUNTIES TO THE NORTH
AND WEST OF THE WINTER STORM WARNING...WHICH COVERS PORTIONS OF
CENTRAL MINNESOTA...INCLUDING THE COMMUNITIES OF MORA...ST.
CLOUD...AND REDWOOD FALLS. THE ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

SNOW WILL BEGIN ACROSS AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA BY
TUESDAY MORNING. THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND NORTHWARD INTO 
THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA BY NOON ON TUESDAY AND ACROSS
THE ENTIRE AREA BY MID-AFTERNOON. ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO TWO
INCHES ARE FORECAST BY 6 PM TUESDAY. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY
INCREASE TUESDAY BUT REMAIN LOW ENOUGH THAT BLOWING SNOW IS NOT
ANTICIPATED DURING THAT TIME.

SNOW WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY TUESDAY NIGHT AND PERSIST THROUGH
WEDNESDAY MORNING...PRIMARILY ACROSS THE WARNING AREAS. PERIODS
OF HEAVY SNOW ARE EXPECTED. THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED SOUTH
AND EAST OF A FAIRMONT...TO RED WING...TO RICE LAKE WISCONSIN
LINE. IN THESE AREAS...STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF EIGHT
INCHES OR MORE ARE LIKELY BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. ACROSS THE
REMAINDER OF THE WARNING AREA...FIVE TO EIGHT INCHES ARE
EXPECTED. WITHIN THE ADVISORY AREA OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA...THREE TO
SIX INCHES OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED.

INCREASING WINDS OVERNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT WILL RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE
BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW AND WILL PRODUCE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS
OVER SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. ZERO VISIBILITIES ARE EXPECTED AT
TIMES...INCLUDING ALONG INTERSTATE 90 AND INTERSTATE 35 SOUTH OF
FARIBAULT.

TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL BECOME VERY DIFFICULT AND IMPOSSIBLE AT
TIMES IN THE BLIZZARD WARNING AREA DURING OVERNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT 
AND WEDNESDAY MORNING. ACROSS THE WINTER STORM WARNING
AREA...DIFFICULT TRAVEL IS LIKELY THROUGHOUT THE WARNING TIME.

WITH THIS BEING THE FIRST MAJOR WINTER STORM OF THE 
SEASON...ENSURE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE PREPARED FOR WINTER
WEATHER AND THAT YOUR VEHICLE IS ALSO PREPARED WITH A WINTER
WEATHER SAFETY KIT.



MNZ082>085-091>093-080630-
/O.UPG.KMPX.BZ.A.0003.091208T1800Z-091210T0600Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.BZ.W.0003.091208T1800Z-091210T0600Z/
WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. JAMES...MANKATO...WASECA...
OWATONNA...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA
422 PM CST MON DEC 7 2009

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY TO MIDNIGHT CST
WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS
ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY
TO MIDNIGHT CST WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE BLIZZARD WATCH IS NO LONGER
IN EFFECT.

SNOW WILL BEGIN ACROSS AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA BY
TUESDAY MORNING. ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES ARE FORECAST
BY 6 PM TUESDAY. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY INCREASE TUESDAY BUT
REMAIN LOW ENOUGH THAT BLOWING SNOW IS NOT ANTICIPATED DURING THAT
TIME.

SNOW WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY TUESDAY NIGHT AND PERSIST THROUGH
WEDNESDAY MORNING. PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW ARE EXPECTED. STORM
TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF FIVE TO NINE INCHES ARE EXPECTED.
INCREASING WINDS OVERNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT WILL RESULT IN
CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW AND WILL PRODUCE BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS. ZERO VISIBILITIES ARE EXPECTED AT TIMES...INCLUDING
ALONG INTERSTATE 90 AND INTERSTATE 35 SOUTH OF FARIBAULT.

TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL BECOME VERY DIFFICULT AND IMPOSSIBLE AT
TIMES DURING OVERNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY MORNING.

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

$$

MNZ053-060>063-067>070-074>078-WIZ014>016-023>028-080630-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WS.A.0007.091208T1800Z-091210T0600Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.W.0007.091208T1800Z-091210T0600Z/
CHISAGO-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-
DAKOTA-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-POLK-BARRON-RUSK-
ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CENTER CITY...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...
ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...GAYLORD...CHASKA...SHAKOPEE...
BURNSVILLE...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...LE SUEUR...FARIBAULT...
RED WING...AMERY...BALSAM LAKE...RICE LAKE...BARRON...LADYSMITH...
HUDSON...NEW RICHMOND...RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...
BOYCEVILLE...DURAND...PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...
EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
422 PM CST MON DEC 7 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY TO MIDNIGHT
CST WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS
ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM NOON TUESDAY TO MIDNIGHT CST WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE WINTER
STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

SNOW WILL BEGIN ACROSS AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA BY TUESDAY
MORNING. THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND NORTHWARD INTO THE TWIN
CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA BY NOON ON TUESDAY AND ACROSS THE ENTIRE
AREA BY MID-AFTERNOON. ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES ARE
FORECAST BY 6 PM TUESDAY. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY INCREASE
TUESDAY BUT REMAIN LOW ENOUGH THAT BLOWING SNOW IS NOT ANTICIPATED
DURING THAT TIME.

SNOW WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY TUESDAY NIGHT AND PERSIST THROUGH
WEDNESDAY MORNING...PRIMARILY ACROSS THE WARNING AREAS. PERIODS
OF HEAVY SNOW ARE EXPECTED. THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED SOUTH
AND EAST OF A FAIRMONT...TO RED WING...TO RICE LAKE WISCONSIN
LINE. IN THESE AREAS...STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF EIGHT
INCHES OR MORE ARE LIKELY BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. ACROSS THE
REMAINDER OF THE WARNING AREA...FIVE TO EIGHT INCHES ARE
EXPECTED. INCREASING WINDS OVERNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT WILL RESULT IN
BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS. DIFFICULT
TRAVEL IS LIKELY THROUGHOUT THE WARNING TIME.

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA 
FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY.

$$

MNZ045-051-052-058-059-065-066-073-080630-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WS.A.0007.091208T1800Z-091210T0600Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.WW.Y.0011.091208T1800Z-091210T0000Z/
KANABEC-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-REDWOOD-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MORA...ELK RIVER...CAMBRIDGE...
LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...OLIVIA...HUTCHINSON...REDWOOD FALLS
422 PM CST MON DEC 7 2009

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY TO 6 PM
CST WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS
ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY TO 6 PM CST WEDNESDAY. THE WINTER STORM
WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

SNOW WILL BEGIN ACROSS AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA BY
TUESDAY MORNING. THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND NORTHWARD 
ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA BY MID-AFTERNOON. ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO
TWO INCHES ARE FORECAST BY 6 PM TUESDAY. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
SLOWLY INCREASE TUESDAY BUT REMAIN LOW ENOUGH THAT BLOWING SNOW IS
NOT ANTICIPATED DURING THAT TIME.

SNOW WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY TUESDAY NIGHT AND PERSIST THROUGH
WEDNESDAY MORNING. TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
OF THREE TO SIX INCHES ARE EXPECTED. INCREASING WINDS OVERNIGHT
TUESDAY NIGHT WILL RESULT IN BLOWING AND DRIFTING
SNOW...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS. PERIODS OF DIFFICULT TRAVEL ARE
LIKELY.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS THAT
VISIBILITIES WILL BE LIMITED DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FALLING AND
BLOWING SNOW. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN
AREAS.

$$

MNZ044-049-050-057-080630-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WW.Y.0011.091208T1800Z-091210T0000Z/
MILLE LACS-STEARNS-BENTON-KANDIYOHI-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PRINCETON...ST. CLOUD...FOLEY...WILLMAR
422 PM CST MON DEC 7 2009

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY TO 6 PM
CST WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS
ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW...WHICH
IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY TO 6 PM CST WEDNESDAY.

SNOW WILL BEGIN ACROSS AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA BY
TUESDAY MORNING. THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND NORTHWARD 
ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA BY MID-AFTERNOON. ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO
TWO INCHES ARE FORECAST BY 6 PM TUESDAY. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
SLOWLY INCREASE TUESDAY BUT REMAIN LOW ENOUGH THAT BLOWING SNOW IS
NOT ANTICIPATED DURING THAT TIME.

SNOW WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY TUESDAY NIGHT AND PERSIST THROUGH
WEDNESDAY MORNING. TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
OF 3 TO 6 INCHES ARE EXPECTED. INCREASING WINDS OVERNIGHT TUESDAY
NIGHT WILL RESULT IN BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...ESPECIALLY IN
OPEN AREAS. PERIODS OF DIFFICULT TRAVEL ARE LIKELY.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS THAT
VISIBILITIES WILL BE LIMITED DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FALLING AND
BLOWING SNOW. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN
AREAS.

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Twin Cities, MN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 6, 3:19 PM CSTWinter Storm WatchMPXAnoka, Brown, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue and 16 more25 hr

Nearby

Blizzard Watches in Minnesota, 2009Every blizzard watch in 2009

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.