Alert archive / Minnesota / Winter Storm Watches in 2009

Winter Storm Watch 2, NWS Twin Cities, MN

February 24, 200942 counties in Minnesota; 9 counties in Wisconsin

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this winter storm watch at Feb 24, 2009, 3:12 PM CST for 42 counties in Minnesota; 9 counties in Wisconsin. It took effect at Feb 26, 2009, 6:00 AM CST. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 24, 2009, 3:12 PM CST (21:12 UTC)
In effect from
Feb 26, 2009, 6:00 AM CST
Expired
Feb 25, 2009, 3:15 PM CST
In force
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
All 51 counties

Anoka County, MN, Benton County, MN, Blue Earth County, MN, Brown County, MN, Carver County, MN, Chippewa County, MN, Chisago County, MN, Dakota County, MN, Douglas County, MN, Faribault County, MN, Freeborn County, MN, Goodhue County, MN, Hennepin County, MN, Isanti County, MN, Kanabec County, MN, Kandiyohi County, MN, Lac qui Parle County, MN, Le Sueur County, MN, Martin County, MN, McLeod County, MN, Meeker County, MN, Mille Lacs County, MN, Morrison County, MN, Nicollet County, MN, Pope County, MN, Ramsey County, MN, Redwood County, MN, Renville County, MN, Rice County, MN, Scott County, MN, Sherburne County, MN, Sibley County, MN, Stearns County, MN, Steele County, MN, Stevens County, MN, Swift County, MN, Todd County, MN, Waseca County, MN, Washington County, MN, Watonwan County, MN, Wright County, MN, Yellow Medicine County, MN, Barron County, WI, Chippewa County, WI, Dunn County, WI, Eau Claire County, WI, Pepin County, WI, Pierce County, WI, Polk County, WI, Rusk County, WI, Saint Croix County, WI

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 20 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:11 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, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 17 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 2009-02-24Temperature 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°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2009-02-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 601 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1061 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
601 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
712 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 242112
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
312 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009

...SIGNIFICANT SNOW AND WIND HEADED FOR PARTS OF SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...

.HEAVY SNOW IS POSSIBLE FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA
ON THURSDAY...AND THEN FOR PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND
WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND THURSDAY EVENING.
STRONG NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL ALSO DEVELOP OVER SOUTHWEST
AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THEREFORE...A WINTER STORM WATCH HAS
BEEN ISSUED FOR THURSDAY AND THURSDAY EVENING FOR AREAS SOUTH OF
A LINE FROM AROUND BENSON...TO THE TWIN CITIES...TO BLOOMER
WISCONSIN.

SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 OR MORE INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER MOST OF
THE AREA...BUT THE GREATEST RISK OF OVER 6 INCHES...APPEARS TO BE
FROM AROUND OLIVIA AND MADISON...TO JUST SOUTH OF THE TWIN CITIES...TO
NEAR EAU CLAIRE. IN ADDITION...NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO
30 MPH ARE LIKELY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER PARTS OF
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN AND
SNOW IS ALSO POSSIBLE SOUTH OF MANKATO AND OWATONNA.

A LOW PRESSURE AREA WILL INTENSIFY OVER KANSAS AND TRACK TOWARD
FAR EASTERN IOWA ON THURSDAY AND THURSDAY EVENING.

STAY TUNED FOR LATER FORECASTS AND WINTER WEATHER PRODUCT UPDATES
ON THIS DEVELOPING STORM SITUATION. 


MNZ054>059-064>067-073>075-082-083-091-092-250515-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1200Z-090227T0000Z/
LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-
YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-
WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...
WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...GRANITE FALLS...OLIVIA...
HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...
ST. JAMES...MANKATO...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH
312 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

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

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP BY THURSDAY MORNING...POSSIBLY BECOMING
HEAVY...DURING THE DAY. ACCUMULATIONS COULD REACH 6 INCHES OR MORE
BY LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THE GREATEST RISK OF MORE THAN 6 INCHES
OF SNOW WOULD BE FROM MADISON...AND OLIVIA...TO HUTCHINSON. 
NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL ALSO INCREASE TO 20 TO 30
MPH...CAUSING BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. A PERIOD OF MIXED
FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW IS ALSO POSSIBLE SOUTH OF REDWOOD FALLS AND
MANKATO.

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.

$$

MNZ060>063-068>070-076>078-084-085-093-WIZ023>028-250515-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1800Z-090227T0600Z/
HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-LE SUEUR-
RICE-GOODHUE-WASECA-STEELE-FREEBORN-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-
CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...ST. PAUL...
STILLWATER...CHASKA...SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...LE SUEUR...
FARIBAULT...RED WING...WASECA...OWATONNA...ALBERT LEA...HUDSON...
NEW RICHMOND...RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...
DURAND...PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
312 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING...

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

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON...POSSIBLY BECOMING
HEAVY...AND CONTINUING THURSDAY EVENING. ACCUMULATIONS COULD
REACH 6 INCHES OR MORE BY THURSDAY NIGHT. THE GREATEST RISK OF
MORE THAN 6 INCHES OF SNOW WOULD BE FROM THE SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF
THE TWIN CITIES...AND FARIBAULT...TO EAU CLAIRE. A PERIOD OF MIXED
FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW IS POSSIBLE SOUTH OF WASECA AND OWATONNA.
INCREASING NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE SOME DRIFTING SNOW
THURSDAY EVENING.

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.

$$
JPR/MPG
5 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS43 KMPX 250501
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1101 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009

...SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL AND WIND BECOMING MORE LIKELY ON THURSDAY...

.HEAVY SNOW IS BECOMING MORE LIKELY ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN STARTING THURSDAY
MORNING...AND LASTING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. THE LATEST
GUIDANCE SUGGESTED THAT A BAND OF FOUR TO EIGHT INCHES OF SNOW
WILL FALL ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN...OR MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM NEAR BENSON 
MINNESOTA...TO THE TWIN CITIES...TO BLOOMER WISCONSIN.

EVEN HIGHER SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 INCHES OR MORE ARE
POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF THE AREA...BUT THIS SCENARIO REMAINS
UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE OVERALL PLACEMENT OF THE SURFACE
LOW...UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE...AND MOISTURE DEPTH. IN
ADDITION...NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH ARE LIKELY
THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER PARTS OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. 

THERE ALSO REMAINS A POSSIBILITY OF A MIXTURE OF FREEZING RAIN AND
SNOW ACROSS FAR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. 

STAY TUNED FOR LATER FORECASTS AND WINTER WEATHER PRODUCT UPDATES
ON THIS DEVELOPING STORM SITUATION.

MNZ054>059-064>067-073>075-082-083-091-092-251315-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1200Z-090227T0000Z/
LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-
YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-
WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...
WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...GRANITE FALLS...OLIVIA...
HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...
ST. JAMES...MANKATO...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH
1101 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING
THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING
THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON. 

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP BY THURSDAY MORNING...POSSIBLY BECOMING
HEAVY DURING THE DAY. ACCUMULATIONS COULD REACH 6 INCHES OR MORE
BY LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON. NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL ALSO
INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH...CAUSING BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. A
PERIOD OF MIXED FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW IS ALSO POSSIBLE SOUTH OF
REDWOOD FALLS AND MANKATO.

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.

$$

MNZ060>063-068>070-076>078-084-085-093-WIZ023>028-251315-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1800Z-090227T0600Z/
HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-LE SUEUR-
RICE-GOODHUE-WASECA-STEELE-FREEBORN-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-
CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...ST. PAUL...
STILLWATER...CHASKA...SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...LE SUEUR...
FARIBAULT...RED WING...WASECA...OWATONNA...ALBERT LEA...HUDSON...
NEW RICHMOND...RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...
DURAND...PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
1101 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...

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

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON...POSSIBLY BECOMING
HEAVY...AND CONTINUING THURSDAY EVENING. ACCUMULATIONS COULD
REACH 6 INCHES OR MORE BY THURSDAY NIGHT. A PERIOD OF MIXED
FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW IS POSSIBLE SOUTH OF WASECA AND OWATONNA.
IN ADDITION...INCREASING NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE 
SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

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 250939
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
339 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL MORE LIKELY ON THURSDAY...

.HEAVY SNOW IS BECOMING MORE LIKELY ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND 
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN STARTING THURSDAY
MORNING... AND LASTING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. THE LATEST
WEATHER INFORMATION SUGGESTS THAT A BAND OF FOUR TO EIGHT INCHES
OF SNOW WILL FALL ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...OR MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH
OF A LINE FROM NEAR BENSON MINNESOTA...TO CAMBRIDGE AND TO RICE
LAKE AND LADYSMITH WISCONSIN.

EVEN HIGHER SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 INCHES OR MORE ARE
POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF THE AREA...BUT THIS SCENARIO REMAINS
UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE OVERALL PLACEMENT OF VARIOUS
WEATHER FEATURES. IN ADDITION...NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO
30 MPH ARE LIKELY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER PARTS OF
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

THERE ALSO REMAINS A POSSIBILITY OF A MIXTURE OF FREEZING RAIN
AND SNOW ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND
THURSDAY MORNING.

STAY TUNED FOR LATER FORECASTS AND WINTER WEATHER PRODUCT UPDATES
ON THIS DEVELOPING STORM SITUATION.

MNZ044-047>051-251745-
/O.EXA.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1200Z-090227T0000Z/
MILLE LACS-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-BENTON-SHERBURNE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PRINCETON...MORRIS...GLENWOOD...
ST. CLOUD...FOLEY...ELK RIVER
339 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

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

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP OVER CENTRAL MINNESOTA THURSDAY MORNING...POSSIBLY
BECOMING HEAVY AT TIMES. ACCUMULATIONS COULD REACH 6 INCHES OR MORE
BY LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON. NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL ALSO
INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH...CAUSING BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

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.

$$

MNZ045-052-053-WIZ014>016-251745-
/O.EXA.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1800Z-090227T0600Z/
KANABEC-ISANTI-CHISAGO-POLK-BARRON-RUSK-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MORA...CAMBRIDGE...CENTER CITY...
AMERY...BALSAM LAKE...RICE LAKE...BARRON...LADYSMITH
339 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING...

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

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON...POSSIBLY BECOMING
HEAVY AT TIMES...AND CONTINUING INTO THURSDAY EVENING. ACCUMULATIONS
COULD REACH 6 INCHES OR MORE BY THURSDAY NIGHT. IN ADDITION...INCREASING
NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING
SNOW...MAINLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

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.

$$

MNZ054>059-064>067-073>075-082-083-091-092-251745-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1200Z-090227T0000Z/
LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-
YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-
WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...
WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...GRANITE FALLS...OLIVIA...
HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...
ST. JAMES...MANKATO...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH
339 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING
THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING
THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON. 

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP BY THURSDAY MORNING...POSSIBLY BECOMING
HEAVY DURING THE DAY. ACCUMULATIONS COULD REACH 6 INCHES OR MORE
BY LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON. NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL ALSO
INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH...CAUSING BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. A
PERIOD OF MIXED FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW IS ALSO POSSIBLE SOUTH OF
REDWOOD FALLS...MANKATO AND OWATONNA THURSDAY MORNING.

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.

$$

MNZ060>063-068>070-076>078-084-085-093-WIZ023>028-251745-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1800Z-090227T0600Z/
HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-LE SUEUR-
RICE-GOODHUE-WASECA-STEELE-FREEBORN-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-
CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...ST. PAUL...
STILLWATER...CHASKA...SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...LE SUEUR...
FARIBAULT...RED WING...WASECA...OWATONNA...ALBERT LEA...HUDSON...
NEW RICHMOND...RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...
DURAND...PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
339 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...

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

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP BY LATE THURSDAY MORNING IN EAST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...AND THURSDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.
THE SNOW COULD BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES ESPECIALLY AROUND NOON.
THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS...TAPERING TO
FLURRIES OR ENDING BY LATE EVENING. ACCUMULATIONS COULD REACH 6
INCHES OR MORE BY THURSDAY NIGHT. IN ADDITION...INCREASING NORTH
TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW
ESPECIALLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

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 251602
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1002 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL MORE LIKELY ON THURSDAY...

.HEAVY SNOW IS BECOMING MORE LIKELY ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN STARTING
THURSDAY MORNING... AND LASTING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. THE
LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION SUGGESTS THAT A BAND OF FOUR TO EIGHT
INCHES OF SNOW WILL FALL ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...OR MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH
OF A LINE FROM NEAR BENSON MINNESOTA...TO CAMBRIDGE AND TO RICE
LAKE AND LADYSMITH WISCONSIN. 

EVEN HIGHER SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 INCHES OR MORE ARE
POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN ...BUT THE EXACT LOCATION REMAINS UNCERTAIN AT THIS
TIME DUE TO THE OVERALL PLACEMENT OF VARIOUS WEATHER FEATURES. IN
ADDITION...NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH ARE LIKELY
THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER PARTS OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

THERE ALSO REMAINS A POSSIBILITY OF A MIXTURE OF FREEZING RAIN
AND SNOW ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND
THURSDAY MORNING. 

TRAVEL LATE THURSDAY MORNING INTO THURSDAY EVENING...INCLUDING THE
AFTERNOON COMMUTE... IS EXPECTED TO BECOME TREACHEROUS ACROSS MUCH
OF THE WATCH AREA.

STAY TUNED FOR LATER FORECASTS AND WINTER WEATHER PRODUCT UPDATES
ON THIS DEVELOPING STORM SITUATION.

MNZ044-047>051-054>059-064>067-073>075-082-083-091-092-260015-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1200Z-090227T0000Z/
MILLE LACS-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-BENTON-SHERBURNE-LAC QUI PARLE-
SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-
MCLEOD-SIBLEY-REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-MARTIN-
FARIBAULT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PRINCETON...MORRIS...GLENWOOD...
ST. CLOUD...FOLEY...ELK RIVER...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...
WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...GRANITE FALLS...OLIVIA...
HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...
ST. JAMES...MANKATO...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH
1002 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING
THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING
THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON. 

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP OVER CENTRAL MINNESOTA THURSDAY MORNING...
POSSIBLY BECOMING HEAVY AT TIMES. ACCUMULATIONS COULD REACH
6 INCHES OR MORE BY LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON. NORTH TO NORTHWEST
WINDS WILL ALSO INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH...CAUSING BLOWING AND
DRIFTING SNOW.

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.

$$

MNZ045-052-053-060>063-068>070-076>078-084-085-093-WIZ014>016-
023>028-260015-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1800Z-090227T0600Z/
KANABEC-ISANTI-CHISAGO-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-CARVER-
SCOTT-DAKOTA-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-WASECA-STEELE-FREEBORN-POLK-
BARRON-RUSK-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MORA...CAMBRIDGE...CENTER CITY...
MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...CHASKA...
SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...LE SUEUR...FARIBAULT...RED WING...
WASECA...OWATONNA...ALBERT LEA...AMERY...BALSAM LAKE...
RICE LAKE...BARRON...LADYSMITH...HUDSON...NEW RICHMOND...
RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...DURAND...
PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
1002 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...

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

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP BY LATE THURSDAY MORNING IN EAST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...AND THURSDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.
THE SNOW COULD BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES ESPECIALLY AROUND NOON AND
INTO THE MID AFTERNOON. THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING
HOURS...TAPERING TO FLURRIES OR ENDING BY LATE EVENING.
ACCUMULATIONS COULD REACH 6 INCHES OR MORE BY THURSDAY NIGHT. IN
ADDITION...INCREASING NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE SOME
BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ESPECIALLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. 

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 251739
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1139 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL MORE LIKELY ON THURSDAY...

.HEAVY SNOW IS BECOMING MORE LIKELY ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN STARTING
THURSDAY MORNING... AND LASTING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. THE
LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION SUGGESTS THAT A BAND OF FOUR TO EIGHT
INCHES OF SNOW WILL FALL ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...OR MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH
OF A LINE FROM NEAR BENSON MINNESOTA...TO CAMBRIDGE AND TO RICE
LAKE AND LADYSMITH WISCONSIN.

EVEN HIGHER SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 INCHES OR MORE ARE
POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN ...BUT THE EXACT LOCATION REMAINS UNCERTAIN AT THIS
TIME DUE TO THE OVERALL PLACEMENT OF VARIOUS WEATHER FEATURES. IN
ADDITION...NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH ARE LIKELY
THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER PARTS OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

THERE ALSO REMAINS A POSSIBILITY OF A MIXTURE OF FREEZING RAIN
AND SNOW ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND
THURSDAY MORNING.

TRAVEL LATE THURSDAY MORNING INTO THURSDAY EVENING...INCLUDING
THE AFTERNOON COMMUTE... IS EXPECTED TO BECOME TREACHEROUS ACROSS
MUCH OF THE WATCH AREA.

STAY TUNED FOR LATER FORECASTS AND WINTER WEATHER PRODUCT UPDATES
ON THIS DEVELOPING STORM SITUATION.

MNZ041>043-260145-
/O.EXB.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1500Z-090227T0000Z/
DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALEXANDRIA...LONG PRAIRIE...
LITTLE FALLS
1139 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

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

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP BY LATE THURSDAY MORNING IN EAST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...AND BY EARLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN. THE SNOW COULD BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES ESPECIALLY AROUND
NOON AND INTO THE MID AFTERNOON. THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO THE
EVENING HOURS...TAPERING TO FLURRIES OR ENDING BY LATE EVENING.
ACCUMULATIONS COULD REACH 6 INCHES OR MORE BY THURSDAY NIGHT. IN
ADDITION...INCREASING NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE SOME
BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ESPECIALLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING.

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.

$$

MNZ045-052-053-060>063-068>070-076>078-084-085-093-WIZ014>016-
023>028-260145-
/O.EXT.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1500Z-090227T0600Z/
KANABEC-ISANTI-CHISAGO-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-CARVER-
SCOTT-DAKOTA-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-WASECA-STEELE-FREEBORN-POLK-
BARRON-RUSK-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MORA...CAMBRIDGE...CENTER CITY...
MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...CHASKA...
SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...LE SUEUR...FARIBAULT...RED WING...
WASECA...OWATONNA...ALBERT LEA...AMERY...BALSAM LAKE...
RICE LAKE...BARRON...LADYSMITH...HUDSON...NEW RICHMOND...
RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...DURAND...
PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
1139 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING...

THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. 

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP BY LATE THURSDAY MORNING IN EAST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...AND BY EARLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN. THE SNOW COULD BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES ESPECIALLY AROUND
NOON AND INTO THE MID AFTERNOON. THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO THE
EVENING HOURS...TAPERING TO FLURRIES OR ENDING BY LATE EVENING.
ACCUMULATIONS COULD REACH 6 INCHES OR MORE BY THURSDAY NIGHT. IN
ADDITION...INCREASING NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE SOME
BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ESPECIALLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING.

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.

$$

MNZ044-047>051-054>059-064>067-073>075-082-083-091-092-260145-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1200Z-090227T0000Z/
MILLE LACS-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-BENTON-SHERBURNE-LAC QUI PARLE-
SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-
MCLEOD-SIBLEY-REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-MARTIN-
FARIBAULT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PRINCETON...MORRIS...GLENWOOD...
ST. CLOUD...FOLEY...ELK RIVER...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...
WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...GRANITE FALLS...OLIVIA...
HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...
ST. JAMES...MANKATO...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH
1139 AM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING
THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING
THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON. 

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP OVER CENTRAL MINNESOTA THURSDAY MORNING...
POSSIBLY BECOMING HEAVY AT TIMES. ACCUMULATIONS COULD REACH
6 INCHES OR MORE BY LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON. NORTH TO NORTHWEST
WINDS WILL ALSO INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH...CAUSING BLOWING AND
DRIFTING SNOW.

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 252115
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
315 PM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL LIKELY ON THURSDAY...

.HEAVY SNOW IS LIKELY ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN STARTING THURSDAY
MORNING...AND LASTING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. THE LATEST WEATHER
INFORMATION SUGGESTS THAT A BAND OF FOUR TO EIGHT INCHES OF SNOW
WILL FALL ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND
WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...OR MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM
NEAR BENSON MINNESOTA...TO CAMBRIDGE AND TO RICE LAKE AND
LADYSMITH WISCONSIN.

ISOLATED SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 9 TO 11 INCHES ARE
POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN...BUT THE EXACT LOCATION REMAINS UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME
DUE TO THE TRACK OF A MID LEVEL TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE. IN
ADDITION...NORTH TO NORTHWEST SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH ARE
LIKELY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THIS WILL CAUSE NOTICEABLE
BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION. 

THERE ALSO REMAINS A POSSIBILITY OF A MIXTURE OF FREEZING RAIN
AND SNOW ACROSS EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA THURSDAY MORNING.
THIS WILL OCCUR MAINLY SOUTH OF A LINE...FROM TRUMAN TO MAPLETON
TO OWATONNA. 

TRAVEL LATE THURSDAY MORNING INTO THURSDAY EVENING...IS EXPECTED
TO BECOME DIFFICULT ACROSS MUCH OF THE WARNING AREA. VISIBILITIES
DUE TO BLOWING SNOW COULD DROP TO A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AT TIMES.

STAY TUNED FOR LATER FORECASTS AND WINTER WEATHER PRODUCT UPDATES
ON THIS DEVELOPING STORM SITUATION.

MNZ041>043-260515-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1500Z-090227T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.W.0003.090226T1200Z-090227T0000Z/
DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALEXANDRIA...LONG PRAIRIE...
LITTLE FALLS
315 PM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM CST
THURSDAY...

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

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP BY OR SHORTLY AFTER DAWN ON THURSDAY
MORNING IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...AND BY LATE THURSDAY MORNING
ACROSS EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THE SNOW COULD BECOME HEAVY AT
TIMES ESPECIALLY AFTER DAWN AND INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON. THE SNOW
WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS...TAPERING TO FLURRIES
OR ENDING BY LATE EVENING. ACCUMULATIONS COULD REACH 6 INCHES OR
MORE BY THURSDAY EVENING. IN ADDITION...INCREASING NORTH TO
NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW
ESPECIALLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.



$$

MNZ044-047>051-054>059-064>067-073>075-082-083-091-092-260515-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1200Z-090227T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.W.0003.090226T1200Z-090227T0000Z/
MILLE LACS-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-BENTON-SHERBURNE-LAC QUI PARLE-
SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-
MCLEOD-SIBLEY-REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-MARTIN-
FARIBAULT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PRINCETON...MORRIS...GLENWOOD...
ST. CLOUD...FOLEY...ELK RIVER...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...
WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...GRANITE FALLS...OLIVIA...
HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...
ST. JAMES...MANKATO...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH
315 PM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM CST
THURSDAY...

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

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP OVER CENTRAL MINNESOTA THURSDAY
MORNING...MAINLY AFTER 7 AM...POSSIBLY BECOMING HEAVY AT TIMES.
ACCUMULATIONS COULD REACH 6 INCHES OR MORE BY LATE THURSDAY
AFTERNOON. NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL ALSO INCREASE TO 20 TO 30
MPH...CAUSING BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

THERE ALSO REMAINS A POSSIBILITY OF A MIXTURE OF FREEZING RAIN
AND SNOW ACROSS EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA THURSDAY MORNING.
THIS WILL OCCUR MAINLY SOUTH OF A LINE...FROM TRUMAN TO MAPLETON
TO OWATONNA. 



$$

MNZ045-052-053-060>063-068>070-076>078-084-085-093-WIZ014>016-
023>028-260515-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WS.A.0002.090226T1500Z-090227T0600Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.W.0003.090226T1500Z-090227T0600Z/
KANABEC-ISANTI-CHISAGO-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-CARVER-
SCOTT-DAKOTA-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-WASECA-STEELE-FREEBORN-POLK-
BARRON-RUSK-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MORA...CAMBRIDGE...CENTER CITY...
MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...CHASKA...
SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...LE SUEUR...FARIBAULT...RED WING...
WASECA...OWATONNA...ALBERT LEA...AMERY...BALSAM LAKE...
RICE LAKE...BARRON...LADYSMITH...HUDSON...NEW RICHMOND...
RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...DURAND...
PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
315 PM CST WED FEB 25 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THURSDAY TO MIDNIGHT
CST THURSDAY NIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9
AM THURSDAY TO MIDNIGHT CST THURSDAY NIGHT. THE WINTER STORM WATCH
IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

EXPECT SNOW TO DEVELOP BY LATE THURSDAY MORNING IN EAST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...AND BY EARLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN. THE SNOW COULD BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES ESPECIALLY AROUND
NOON AND INTO THE MID AFTERNOON. THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO THE
EVENING HOURS...TAPERING TO FLURRIES OR ENDING BY LATE EVENING.
ACCUMULATIONS COULD REACH 6 INCHES OR MORE BY THURSDAY NIGHT. IN
ADDITION...INCREASING NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE SOME
BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ESPECIALLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING.

THERE ALSO REMAINS A POSSIBILITY OF A MIXTURE OF FREEZING RAIN
AND SNOW ACROSS EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA THURSDAY MORNING.
THIS WILL OCCUR MAINLY SOUTH OF A LINE...FROM TRUMAN TO MAPLETON
TO OWATONNA. 


$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this winter storm watch went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Twin Cities, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before this winter storm watch went out at Feb 24, 12:09 PM CST, 3 hours 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 24, 12:09 PM CST, 3 hours 3 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1209 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009

.UPDATE...

ADDED 18Z TAF DISCUSSION BELOW.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION.../ISSUED 300 AM CST TUE FEB 24 2009/

RATHER TIGHT SOUTHERLY GRADIENT MAINTAINING OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES
VERY CLOSE TO MAX TEMPS YESTERDAY.  WEAK MID LEVEL TROUGH CURRENTLY
MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA WITH THINNING MID CLOUDS IN ITS
WAKE. 850 MB TEMPS START OUT FAIRLY WARM RIGHT OUT THE GATE THIS
MORNING WITH 0C ISOTHERM INTO N MN BY 00Z AND TEMPS AOB 5C INTO THE
SW. COULD SEE READINGS INTO THE MID 40S IN SW MN THIS AFTERNOON.

VIGOROUS VORT COMING INTO COASTAL WASHINGTON GETS PICKED UP IN FAST
FLOW AND WEAKENS AS IT MOVES RAPIDLY EASTWARD LATER TODAY AND
TONIGHT. IT BRINGS A SURFACE TROUGH ACROSS MINNESOTA TONIGHT AND
ACROSS WI ON WEDNESDAY.  BEST FORCING MOVES FAIRLY RAPIDLY ACROSS N
MN TONIGHT.  WILL MAINTAIN CHANCE POPS ACROSS CENTRAL MN INTO WI.
PROGGED SOUNDINGS SHOW ENOUGH WARM AIR BROUGHT NORTH FOR ANY PCPN
IN CWA TO PROBABLY BEGIN MAINLY AS LIQUID/ICE. NWLY FLOW IN WAKE OF
TROUGH SHOULD CHANGE PCPN TO MAINLY -SN LATE TONIGHT/WED MORNING.

COLDER AIR BEGINS TO POUR INTO AREA ON WEDNESDAY AS DEEP CANADIAN
HIGH PRESSURE (OVER 1040MB) BEGINS TO PUSH SE ACROSS PLAINS OF
CANADA INTO NODAK ON THURSDAY. CURRENT TEMPS UNDER THIS MASS OF COLD
AIR IN THE B30 RANGE IN N SASK/N MB.  AS HIGH PRESSURE MAKES ITS
ADVANCE...LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS IN THE TX/OK PANHANDLE.  MODELS IN A
QUANDARY AS TO WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE MAIN PLAYER IN OUR AREA FOR
THURSDAY. GFS MAINTAINS COLD NW FLOW ACROSS AREA WITH LITTLE QPF
BRINGING LOW PRESSURE OUT OF TX/OK INTO EXT SE IL BY 00Z FRIDAY.
ECMWF ON THE OTHER HAND BACKS UPPER FLOW SUFFICIENTLY TO TRACK
SURFACE LOW INTO S WI BY 00Z FRIDAY BRINGING .50 TO.75 QPF ACROSS
AREA.  NAM AND THE CANADIAN MODEL LIE SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE. FEEL
CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO AT LEAST BUMP UP POPS SOME MORE ON
THURSDAY...AND WELL AS QPF. WITH STRONG SLY FETCH TODAY OFF GULF OF
MEXICO INTO MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND ANOTHER SURGE OF GULF MOISTURE ON
THURSDAY...THERE SHOULD BE A BAND OF HIGH QPF NORTH OF TRACK OF LOW.
THE QUESTION STILL UNRESOLVED AT THIS TIME IS THE TRACK OF THE LOW.

HIGH AMPLITUDE FLOW IN THE WAKE OF THIS SYSTEM WILL KEEP
TEMPERATURES ON THE CHILLY SIDE INTO THE WEEKEND.

&&

.AVIATION.../18Z TAF ISSUANCE/

VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH ABOUT 06Z-08Z WITH FORECAST AREA
BEING IN THE WARM SECTOR AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT AND
LOW PRESSURE. A FEW MID LEVEL CLOUDS AND PREDOMINANT HIGH CLOUDS.
EXPECT LOW PRESSURE AND COLD FRONT TO ENTER THE WESTERN PART OF
THE FORECAST AREA LATER TONIGHT AND INTO EASTERN MN BY MORNING. IT
APPEARS THAT THERE WILL BE ENOUGH LIFT AND SATURATION IN THE MID
LEVELS TO CAUSE SOME SCT PRECIPITATION...ESPECIALLY EASTERN AREAS.
THE PRECIP TYPE A LITTLE IN QUESTION...BUT A FREEZING TYPE TO BE
THE MOST LIKELY. IS MAY BE MILD ENOUGH FOR RAIN AT KMSP BUT WILL
LEAN MORE TOWARD FREEZING RAIN. MOST LIKELY TIME FOR PRECIP SHOULD
BE IN THE 06Z-12Z TIME FROM KSTC-KMSP-KRNH-KEAU...WITH WI SITES
MORE TOWARD 09Z-12Z. EXPECT MVFR CIGS TO DEVELOP ALONG AND JUST
BEHIND COLD FRONT IN THE LATE NIGHT OR EARLY MORNING HOURS. VSBYS
COULD BE IN THE 4-5SM RANGE. SOME RISK OF IFR CIGS KSTC-KAXN
BEHIND THE FRONT.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...NONE.
WI...NONE.
&&

BAP/JPR
Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 24, 12:56 PM CST, 2 hours 16 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1256 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
251100-
DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-
BENTON-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-CHISAGO-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-
KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-
YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-
REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-
WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-POLK-BARRON-RUSK-
ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-EAU CLAIRE-
1256 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA...AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE TRACKING ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA
TONIGHT WILL BRING A CHANCE OF LIGHT MIXED PRECIPITATION
ACROSS CENTRAL PORTIONS OF MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

A STRONG AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL LIFT NORTHEAST OUT OF
THE SOUTHERN PLAINS ON THURSDAY. THIS WEATHER SYSTEM
HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BRINGING PLOWABLE SNOW TO PARTS OF
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. STAY
TUNED TO LATER FORECASTS AS THE TRACK OF THIS SYSTEM
BECOMES BETTER KNOWN.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

Nearby

Winter Storm Watches in Minnesota, 2009Winter Storm Watches in Wisconsin, 2009Every winter storm 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.