Winter Weather Advisory 21, NWS Twin Cities, MN

441 
WWUS43 KMPX 202045
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
245 PM CST MON DEC 20 2010

...SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES...FALLING ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION...

.THE WINTER STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR MOST OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN INTO TONIGHT. THE
WARNING INCLUDES THE ALEXANDRIA...ST CLOUD...WILLMAR...REDWOOD
FALLS AND THE TWIN CITIES IN MINNESOTA. IT ALSO INCLUDES NEW
RICHMOND...RICE LAKE...MENOMONIE AND EAU CLAIRE IN WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN.

SNOWFALL TOTALS WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WILL LIKELY RANGE FROM 
5 TO 8 INCHES...WITH 4 TO 6 INCHES IN THE ADVISORY AREA.

A BAND OF HEAVY SNOW WAS MOVING SLOWLY NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHWEST
AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA THIS AFTERNOON. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO
MOVE EAST...OUT OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA THROUGH 
6 PM. THE SNOW ACROSS CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA WILL
CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS...TAPERING TO LIGHT SNOW AROUND 
9 PM. THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN
THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS TUESDAY. AFTER THE SNOW ENDS IN 
MINNESOTA...FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL BE POSSIBLE...MAINLY ACROSS
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA OVERNIGHT.

WINDS WILL REMAIN IN THE 15 TO 25 MPH CATEGORY...AND WILL RESULT IN 
SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN OPEN AREAS OF SOUTHERN AND
CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

THIS SNOW WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE EVENING COMMUTE
ACROSS THE REGION. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY
ROADWAYS. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE CAUTION AS BRIDGE DECKS AND
OVERPASSES WILL BE SLICK.

MNZ041>045-047>053-055>063-065>070-077-078-WIZ014>016-023>028-
210445-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-101221T1200Z/
DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-
BENTON-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-CHISAGO-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-
WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-
CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-RICE-GOODHUE-POLK-BARRON-RUSK-ST. CROIX-
PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALEXANDRIA...LONG PRAIRIE...
LITTLE FALLS...PRINCETON...MORA...MORRIS...GLENWOOD...ST. CLOUD...
FOLEY...ELK RIVER...CAMBRIDGE...CENTER CITY...BENSON...
MONTEVIDEO...WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...MINNEAPOLIS...
BLAINE...ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...OLIVIA...HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...
CHASKA...SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...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
245 PM CST MON DEC 20 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST
TUESDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST TUESDAY. 

* TIMING...HEAVY SNOW WILL OCCUR AT TIMES THROUGH THE AFTERNOON 
  AND EARLY EVENING...THEN TAPER OFF LATE THIS EVENING. 

* MAIN IMPACT...SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 5 TO 7 INCHES BY LATE 
  TONIGHT...WITH AN EIGHT INCH AMOUNT IN A FEW SPOTS. 

* OTHER IMPACTS...LOW VISIBILITIES IN HEAVY SNOW AND DIFFICULT 
  TRAVEL CONDITIONS. SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL RESULT 
  IN SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN OPEN AREAS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

MNZ054-064-073>076-084-085-093-210445-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-101221T0600Z/
LAC QUI PARLE-YELLOW MEDICINE-REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-
WASECA-STEELE-FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MADISON...GRANITE FALLS...
REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...LE SUEUR...WASECA...
OWATONNA...ALBERT LEA
245 PM CST MON DEC 20 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
TONIGHT...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
TONIGHT. 

* TIMING...SNOWFALL WILL BE HEAVIEST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...THEN
  TAPER OFF AROUND 6 OR 7 PM THIS EVENING. AREAS OF FREEZING
  DRIZZLE WILL BE POSSIBLE AFTER THE SNOW ENDS. 

* MAIN IMPACT...SNOWFALL TOTALS OF 6 TO 8 INCHES THROUGH MONDAY 
  EVENING. 

* OTHER IMPACTS...LOW VISIBILITY AND DIFFICULT TRAVEL 
  CONDITIONS. SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL RESULT IN 
  SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN OPEN AREAS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

MNZ082-083-091-092-210445-
/O.CON.KMPX.WW.Y.0021.000000T0000Z-101221T0600Z/
WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. JAMES...MANKATO...FAIRMONT...
BLUE EARTH
245 PM CST MON DEC 20 2010

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
TONIGHT...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
TONIGHT. 

* TIMING...SNOWFALL WILL BE HEAVIEST THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
  EVENING...THEN TAPER OFF EARLY THIS EVENING. AREAS OF FREEZING
  DRIZZLE POSSIBLE AFTER THE SNOW ENDS.

* MAIN IMPACT...SNOWFALL TOTALS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES.

* OTHER IMPACTS...LOW VISIBILITY AND DIFFICULT TRAVEL 
  CONDITIONS. SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL RESULT IN 
  SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN OPEN AREAS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

145 
WWUS43 KMPX 210336
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
936 PM CST MON DEC 20 2010

...LIGHT SNOW AND AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE REMAIN TONIGHT...

.THE WINTER STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR MOST OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN THROUGH TONIGHT. THE
WARNING INCLUDES THE ALEXANDRIA...ST CLOUD...WILLMAR...REDWOOD
FALLS AND THE TWIN CITIES IN MINNESOTA. IT ALSO INCLUDES NEW
RICHMOND...RICE LAKE...MENOMONIE AND EAU CLAIRE IN WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN.

SNOWFALL TOTALS HAVE GENERALLY RANGED FROM 3 TO 8 INCHES ACROSS
MUCH OF SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.
ONLY LIGHT SNOW WILL LINGER FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT...AND
ADDITIONAL SNOW TOTALS WILL BE VERY MINOR...LESS THAN AN INCH.
HOWEVER...AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT AND WILL
GIVE SOME AREAS A THIN COATING OF ICE ON EXPOSED SURFACES. WHILE
MANY LOCATIONS WILL ONLY SEE A COUPLE HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH OF ICE
ACCUMULATION...A FEW AREAS IN EASTERN MINNESOTA AND WESTERN
WISCONSIN SHOULD GET AROUND A TENTH OF AN INCH.

WINDS WILL REMAIN BREEZY TONIGHT OUT OF THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST AT
10 TO 20 MPH. ALTHOUGH A LITTLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IS
POSSIBLE TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...THE
MAIN HAZARD WILL BE SNOW COVERED ROADS FROM THE SNOW THAT HAS
ALREADY FALLEN AND A THIN COATING OF ICE DUE TO FREEZING DRIZZLE.

BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY ROADWAYS. MOTORISTS ARE
URGED TO USE CAUTION AS BRIDGE DECKS AND OVERPASSES WILL BE SLICK.

MNZ041-047-048-055-056-210600-
/O.EXT.KMPX.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-101221T0600Z/
DOUGLAS-STEVENS-POPE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALEXANDRIA...MORRIS...GLENWOOD...
BENSON...MONTEVIDEO
936 PM CST MON DEC 20 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
TONIGHT...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
TONIGHT. 

* TIMING...LIGHT SNOW AND AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CONTINUE
  TONIGHT AND SUBSIDE BY SUNRISE TUESDAY.

* MAIN IMPACT...TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES...ALONG
  WITH A THIN COATING OF ICE DUE TO FREEZING DRIZZLE.

* OTHER IMPACTS...POOR TRAVEL DUE TO ICY AND SNOW COVERED ROADS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

MNZ075-076-084-085-093-211145-
/O.EXT.KMPX.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-101221T1200Z/
NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-WASECA-STEELE-FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. PETER...LE SUEUR...WASECA...
OWATONNA...ALBERT LEA
936 PM CST MON DEC 20 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST TUESDAY...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST TUESDAY.

* TIMING...LIGHT SNOW AND AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CONTINUE
  TONIGHT AND SUBSIDE AROUND SUNRISE TUESDAY.

* MAIN IMPACT...SNOWFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 7 INCHES ALONG WITH A THIN
  COATING OF ICE DUE TO FREEZING DRIZZLE. UP TO A TENTH OF
  AN INCH ICE ACCUMULATION DUE TO FREEZING DRIZZLE.

* OTHER IMPACTS...POOR TRAVEL DUE TO ICY AND SNOW COVERED ROADS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

MNZ042>045-049>053-057>063-065>070-077-078-WIZ014>016-023>028-
211145-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-101221T1200Z/
TODD-MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-STEARNS-BENTON-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-
CHISAGO-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-
RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-RICE-GOODHUE-POLK-
BARRON-RUSK-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LONG PRAIRIE...LITTLE FALLS...
PRINCETON...MORA...ST. CLOUD...FOLEY...ELK RIVER...CAMBRIDGE...
CENTER CITY...WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...MINNEAPOLIS...
BLAINE...ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...OLIVIA...HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...
CHASKA...SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...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
936 PM CST MON DEC 20 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST
TUESDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST TUESDAY. 

* TIMING...LIGHT SNOW AND AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CONTINUE
  TONIGHT AND SUBSIDE AROUND SUNRISE TUESDAY.

* MAIN IMPACT...SNOWFALL TOTALS OF 3 TO 8 INCHES ALONG WITH A THIN
  COATING OF ICE DUE TO FREEZING DRIZZLE. UP TO A TENTH OF
  AN INCH ICE ACCUMULATION DUE TO FREEZING DRIZZLE.

* OTHER IMPACTS...POOR TRAVEL DUE TO ICY AND SNOW COVERED ROADS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

MNZ054-064-073-074-210600-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-101221T0600Z/
LAC QUI PARLE-YELLOW MEDICINE-REDWOOD-BROWN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MADISON...GRANITE FALLS...
REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM
936 PM CST MON DEC 20 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
TONIGHT...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
TONIGHT. 

* TIMING...LIGHT SNOW AND AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CONTINUE
  LATE THIS EVENING AND GRADUALLY COME TO AN END BY OR SOON AFTER
  MIDNIGHT.

* MAIN IMPACT...SNOWFALL TOTALS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES ALONG WITH A
  THIN COATING OF ICE DUE TO FREEZING DRIZZLE.

* OTHER IMPACTS...POOR TRAVEL DUE TO ICY AND SNOW COVERED ROADS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

MNZ082-083-091-092-210600-
/O.CON.KMPX.WW.Y.0021.000000T0000Z-101221T0600Z/
WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. JAMES...MANKATO...FAIRMONT...
BLUE EARTH
936 PM CST MON DEC 20 2010

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
TONIGHT...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
TONIGHT. 

* TIMING...LIGHT SNOW AND AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CONTINUE
  LATE THIS EVENING AND GRADUALLY SUBSIDE TONIGHT.

* MAIN IMPACT...SNOWFALL TOTALS OF 3 TO 7 INCHES. UP TO A TENTH OF
  AN INCH ICE ACCUMULATION DUE TO FREEZING DRIZZLE.

* OTHER IMPACTS...POOR TRAVEL DUE TO ICY AND SNOW COVERED ROADS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$
FRANKS

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1215 PM CST MON DEC 20 2010

.UPDATED DISCUSSION...
HAVE INCLUDED A FEW MORE COUNTIES OVER SOUTHERN MN IN THE WINTER
STORM WARNING AS HEAVY SNOW BAND REMAINS LOCKED OVER SOUTH CENTRAL
MN. MODEL GUIDANCE HAS THIS BAND LIFTING TO THE NORTHEAST DURING
THE AFTERNOON. STILL BELIEVE HEAVIER SNOW BAND WILL DEVELOP INTO
EAST CENTRAL MN THIS AFTERNOON...AS ISENTROPIC LIFT AND BETTER
DENDRITIC SNOW GROWTH AREA/FRONTO BAND MOVES NORTHEAST. SNOW
TOTALS GENERALLY 5 TO 7 IN HEAVY SNOW BAND WITH PERHAPS LESSER
TOTALS INTO WC WI. WILL CONTINUE TO MONTIOR RADAR/SATELLITE
TRENDS.

&&

.AVIATION.../18Z TAF ISSUANCE/
SNOW DEVELOPED INTO WC WI BY NOONTIME. SHOULD MAKE IT TO KEAU BY
19Z. OTHERWSIE...IFR/OCNL LIFR CONDS OVER REGION WITH VSBYS
GENERALLY LESS THAN 1 1/2SM WITH OCNL 1/2SM HEAVY SNOW. BEST
FORCING MOVES EAST THROUGH 00Z OR SO...AND DOES APPEAR AS MID
LEVEL MOISTURE MOVES THROUGH INTO THE EVENING...WILL SEE POTENTIAL
FOR SOME -FZDZ. HAVE INCLUDED THIS IN MAINLY SOUTHERN TAFS FOR NOW.
WILL HAVE TO MONITOR FOR DEVELOPING TRENDS. CIGS SHOULD GRADUALLY
LIFT INTO TUESDAY MORNING AS DRIER AIR WORKS ACROSS AT LEAST
ACROSS SOUTHWEST PORTIONS OF THE AREA. INVERTED SFC TROUGH OVER
EASTER AREAS MAY LIMIT SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT THROUGH THE MORNING.

KMSP...HEAVY SNOW BAND ANTICIPATED TO LIFT ACROSS THE AREA FROM
1-7 PM. SNOWFALL RATES UP TO AN INCH AN HOUR POSSIBLE. LOOKING FOR
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4-5 INCHES BY 6 PM. LIGHTER SNOW DEVELOPING
THEREAFTER WITH AN ADDITIONAL INCH OR SO POSSIBLE INTO THE EVENING...
WITH SOME -FZDZ POSSIBLE AFTER MAINLY 06Z. WILL HAVE TO MONITOR
FOR THESE TRENDS LATER IN THE FORECAST. CIGS SHOULD GRADUALLY LIFT
POSSIBLY TO 1500 FT OR SO AS SNOW ENDS WITH FURTHER IMPROVEMENT TO
2500 FT POSSIBLE BY LATE TUE MORNING. EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS
DURING THE AFTERNOON SHOULD REMAIN BELOW 15KTS WITH WINDS SHIFTING
MORE SOUTHWEST AND WEST TUE MORNING AS FRONTAL BOUNDARY/TROUGH
MOVES THROUGH.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...
/ISSUED 545 AM CST MON DEC 20 2010/

THE ACTIVE WEATHER THEME WILL CONTINUE THIS FORECAST PERIOD...WITH A
WIDESPREAD SNOWFALL STILL ON TAP FOR TODAY INTO TONIGHT WITH ANOTHER
ROUND OF SNOWFALL EXPECTED AGAIN THU/THU NIGHT FOR AT LEAST THE SW
HALF OF THE MPX CWA. THE GOOD NEWS THOUGH IS THAT DESPITE ALL THE
SNOW...TEMPERATURES LOOK TO REMAIN NEAR NORMAL THROUGH THE COURSE OF
THE WORK WEEK...WITH A BIT OF COOL DOWN EXPECTED FOR THE HOLIDAY
WEEKEND.

IMPRESSIVE PACIFIC JET HAS CONTINUED TO BUILD EAST ACROSS THE PLAINS
OVERNIGHT. THIS HAS SPREAD EVER INCREASING MOISTURE ACROSS THE
CENTRAL CONUS AND WITH SHORTWAVE ENERGY NOW BEGINNING TO CREST THE
ROCKIES...ARE BEGINNING TO SEE CYCLOGENESIS OVER THE HIGH PLAINS. IN
ADDITION...MOISTURE TRANSPORT AND WAA BEGINNING TO INCREASE ACROSS
THE PLAINS...AND STRONG BAND OF ISENTROPIC LIFT AND FGEN HAS A
RESULTED IN A RAPIDLY EXPANDING SHIELD OF SNOW FROM WRN SODAK INTO
NE NEB. MAIN SHORTWAVE THAT WILL BE LEADING TO BIGGEST ISSUES TODAY
CURRENTLY SEEN ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY NEAR YELLOWSTONE AND MODELS
CONTINUE TO BE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THIS MOVING ACROSS NODAK TODAY
AND CENTRAL/NRN MN TONIGHT.

FOR STORM TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...ONLY REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
MODELS IS WITH SPEED. THE FASTEST GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO BE THE
GFS...WITH THE SLOWEST...BY QUITE A BIT BEING THE NAM. FOR TIMING
SNOW TODAY/TONIGHT FOLLOWED A BLEND OF THE SREF/GEM-REG...WHICH
FOLLOWED EXPECTED FGEN/ISENTROPIC FORCING QUITE WELL. MODELS ALL
CONSISTENT WITH WIDE SWATH OF AROUND 0.5 INCH QPF THROUGH
TONIGHT...AND WITH SNOW RATIOS RANGING FROM 10:1 TO 14:1...THIS
SUPPORTED SNOWFALL TOTALS OF 5 TO 7 INCHES ACROSS THE WARNING AREA.
WITH 200 MB WAA RANGING FROM 10 TO 16 DEG C/12 HR...THE COOK METHOD
WOULD SUPPORT SNOW TOTALS SUCH AS THIS. LOOKING AT THE GARCIA
METHOD...THE SPEC HUMIDITY ON THE ISENTROPIC SFC OF CHOICE /295 K/
IS EXPECTED TO BE AROUND 3 G/KG...WHICH AGAIN SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF 5
TO 7 INCHES ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. THIS WOULD MAKE CURRENT SNOWFALL
PROJECTIONS A BORDERLINE WARNING AT BEST...WITH LOCATIONS EAST OF A
LINE FROM BELLE PLAINE TO MILLE LACS LAKE CURRENTLY FORECAST TO FALL
SHORT OF 6 INCHES. TOSSED AROUND THE IDEA OF TRIMMING SOME OF THESE
COUNTIES OUT OF THE WARNING...BUT DID NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF REMOVING
COUNTIES BEFORE THE FLAKES EVEN BEGIN TO FLY. PLUS...FROM THE IMPACT
PERSPECTIVE...THIS ONE SHOULD BE RATHER HIGH...AS ALTHOUGH WE ARE
ONLY EXPECTING 5 TO 7 INCHES...THAT SHOULD ALL FALL IN A 4 TO 6 HOUR
WINDOW. WITH RATES OVER 1 INCH PER HOUR...VSBYS WILL LIKELY BE DOWN
UNDER 1/2SM AS THE BAND MOVES OVER. WITH RATES LIKE THIS EXPECTED
ACROSS THE MARGINAL AREA MENTIONED EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING...
EVENING COMMUTES WILL BE SEVERELY IMPACTED BY THIS SNOW. SO FROM AN
IMPACTS PERSPECTIVE THE WARNING IS PROBABLY WARRANTED. ALSO...DID
CONSIDER ADDING LAC QUI PARLE AND YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTIES INTO THE
WARNING...BUT WITH MARGINAL SNOW TOTALS AT BEST...DECIDED TO KEEP
THE STATUS QUO. ONE FINAL FACTOR TO WATCH FOR WITH THIS EVENT WILL
BE THE POTENTIAL FOR FREEZING DRIZZLE LATE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY
MORNING. WITH H7 LOW EXPECTED TO TRAVEL VERY NEAR NRN CWA BORDER...A
MID LEVEL DRY SLOT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE OVER MOST OF THE AREA...WITH
MOST SOUNDINGS ON BUFKIT BECOMING UNSUPPORTIVE OF CRYSTALS BY 12Z
TUESDAY ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-94...SO HAVE ADDED PATCHY FREEZING
DRIZZLE TO FORECAST.

UPPER SYSTEM WILL BE FILLING/SLOWING DOWN AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE
UPPER MIDWEST...WHICH WILL ALLOW LIGHT PRECIP TO LINGER ACROSS WEST
CENTRAL WI THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON...BUT STILL LOOKS GOOD TO SEE A
MUCH NEEDED BREAK FROM SNOWFALL OCCURRING TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL ALSO RESULT IN ONE OF THE NICER DAYS WE
HAVE SEEN THIS MONTH ON WEDNESDAY...WITH TEMPERATURES ACTUALLY
GETTING UP TO NEAR NORMAL UNDER MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES. OF COURSE MED
RANGE MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW THIS QUIET WEATHER BEING BRIEF...WITH
ANOTHER ROUND OF SNOW EXPECTED THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. IN ALL
OF THE MODELS...THIS SYSTEM HAS A STRANGE RESEMBLANCE TO THE STORM
THAT JUST OCCURRED THURSDAY...WITH WEDGE OF VERY DRY AIR OVER NE MN
AND NRN WI LIMITING NORTHEASTWARD PROGRESSION OF SNOWFALL. CURRENT
00Z RUNS OF THE GFS/GEM/ECMWF ALL INDICATE ANOTHER BORDERLINE
WARNING SNOW OCCURRING THURSDAY/THURSDAY NIGHT SW OF AN ALEXANDRIA
TO FARIBAULT LINE...WITH VERY LITTLE TO THE NORTHEAST OF THIS.
HOWEVER...MODELS HAVE SHOWN A PRETTY STRONG SRN BIAS AT 4 TO 5 DAYS
OUT THIS WINTER...SO WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF FUTURE MODELS RUNS
BEGIN TO SHIFT THIS PRECIP FURTHER NORTH. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT AT
MSP...THE CURRENT 24.2 INCHES OF SNOW FOR THE MONTH IS ONLY 9 INCHES
BEHIND THE MONTHLY RECORD SET BACK IN 1969 /33.2 INCHES/...AND IF
THERE IS A FURTHER NORTH SHIFT IN THE SNOWFALL SWATH FOR THE
THURSDAY SYSTEM...WE COULD MAKE A SERIOUS RUN AT BREAKING THIS
RECORD.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR BROWN-
     FREEBORN-LAC QUI PARLE-LE SUEUR-NICOLLET-REDWOOD-STEELE-
     WASECA-YELLOW MEDICINE.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM CST TUESDAY FOR CARVER-CHIPPEWA-
     DAKOTA-DOUGLAS-GOODHUE-HENNEPIN-KANDIYOHI-MCLEOD-MEEKER-
     POPE-RAMSEY-RENVILLE-RICE-SCOTT-SIBLEY-STEARNS-STEVENS-
     SWIFT-TODD-WRIGHT.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM CST TUESDAY FOR ANOKA-BENTON-
     CHISAGO-ISANTI-KANABEC-MILLE LACS-MORRISON-SHERBURNE-
     WASHINGTON.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR BLUE
     EARTH-FARIBAULT-MARTIN-WATONWAN.

WI...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM CST TUESDAY FOR BARRON-CHIPPEWA-
     DUNN-EAU CLAIRE-PEPIN-PIERCE-POLK-RUSK-ST. CROIX.

&&

JPR/DWE

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1154 AM CST MON DEC 20 2010

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
211200-
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-
1154 AM CST MON DEC 20 2010

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

A WINTER STORM WILL AFFECT THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA TODAY AND
TONIGHT. SNOWFALL OF 5 TO 7 INCHES IS EXPECTED ALONG AND NORTH OF
A REDWOOD FALLS...TO MANKATO AND ALBERT LEA LINE WITH 3 TO 5
INCHES EXPECTED TO THE SOUTHWEST...NEAR FAIRMONT AND ST JAMES.
SEE THE LATEST WINTER WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR FURTHER UPDATES
CONCERNING THIS SNOW EVENT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

A SECOND WEATHER SYSTEM WILL AFFECT THE REGION THURSDAY AND
THURSDAY NIGHT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR MORE ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL.
SNOW TOTALS WILL BE AVAILABLE AS WE GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO
THURSDAY...BUT AT LEAST A FEW INCHES APPEARS POSSIBLE ACROSS
CENTRAL...TO SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THOSE WITH HOLIDAY TRAVEL
PLANS SHOULD MONITOR THE FORECAST AS THIS SYSTEM EVOLVES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS AND SNOWFALL OBSERVERS ARE URGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL
AMOUNTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
824 AM CST MON DEC 20 2010

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0823 AM     SNOW             SLEEPY EYE              44.30N 94.72W
12/20/2010  M0.5 INCH        BROWN              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

CARLYON

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1047 AM CST MON DEC 20 2010

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1047 AM     SNOW             NICOLLET                44.28N 94.19W
12/20/2010  M1.0 INCH        NICOLLET           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            OVER PAST 2.5 HOURS

&&

SCHALLER

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1132 AM CST MON DEC 20 2010

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1047 AM     SNOW             NORTH MANKATO           44.18N 94.03W
12/20/2010  M1.0 INCH        NICOLLET           MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            OVER PAST 2.5 HOURS

&&

TDK