Alert archive / Minnesota / Winter Storm Watches in 2011

Winter Storm Watch 7, NWS Twin Cities, MN

December 2, 20118 counties in Minnesota; 6 counties in Wisconsin

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this winter storm watch at Dec 2, 2011, 12:13 PM CST for 8 counties in Minnesota; 6 counties in Wisconsin. It took effect at Dec 3, 2011, 6:00 AM CST. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Dec 2, 2011, 12:13 PM CST (18:13 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 3, 2011, 6:00 AM CST
Expired
Dec 3, 2011, 3:04 AM CST
In force
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN

Counties Blue Earth County, MN, Faribault County, MN, Freeborn County, MN, Goodhue County, MN, Martin County, MN, Rice County, MN, Steele County, MN, Waseca County, MN, Chippewa County, WI, Dunn County, WI, Eau Claire County, WI, Pepin County, WI, Pierce County, WI, Rusk County, WI

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 81 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:13 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, 6.2 hours before the alert went out and 84 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 2011-12-02Temperature 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 2011-12-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 103 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
1290 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
103 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
192 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.

621 
WWUS43 KMPX 021813
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1213 PM CST FRI DEC 2 2011

...SNOW DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA INTO WEST
CENTRAL WISCONSIN SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT

.THE POTENTIAL FOR 6 INCHES OR MORE OF SNOW ACCUMULATION IS
INCREASING FOR A PORTION OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN. A WINTER STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THAT AREA EAST
OF A LINE FROM FAIRMONT...RED WING AND LADYSMITH...FOR SATURDAY
AND SATURDAY NIGHT. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SATURDAY
MORNING ACROSS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND SPREAD EAST SATURDAY
AFTERNOON. THE HEAVIER SNOW SHOULD DEVELOP BY AFTERNOON OVER
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND THEN AFFECT EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND
WESTERN WISCONSIN BY LATE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING. LESSER
ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR OVER EASTERN CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...WITH ONE TO THREE INCHES OF SNOW ANTICIPATED. STAY
TUNED FOR LATER UPDATES CONCERNING THIS LATEST SNOW EVENT.

MNZ077-078-083>085-091>093-WIZ016-024>028-030215-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.A.0007.111203T1200Z-111204T1200Z/
RICE-GOODHUE-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
RUSK-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FARIBAULT...RED WING...MANKATO...
WASECA...OWATONNA...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA...
LADYSMITH...RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...
DURAND...PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
1213 PM CST FRI DEC 2 2011

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH
LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...

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

* TIMING...SNOW IS EXPECTED SPREAD NORTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA
  SATURDAY MORNING. THE BULK OF THE ACCUMULATING SNOW IS EXPECTED
  LATER SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO SATURDAY EVENING.

* MAIN IMPACT...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 7 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE.

* OTHER IMPACTS...SNOW COVERED ROADS AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES CAN
  BE EXPECTED SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT MAKING FOR HAZARDOUS
  TRAVEL AND LONGER TRAVEL TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
452 
WWUS43 KMPX 030309
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
909 PM CST FRI DEC 2 2011

...SNOW DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA INTO WEST
CENTRAL WISCONSIN SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...

.THE POTENTIAL FOR 6 INCHES OR MORE OF SNOW ACCUMULATION IS
BECOMING LIKELY OVER A PORTION OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WEST
CENTRAL WISCONSIN. A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR
THAT AREA EAST OF A LINE FROM FAIRMONT...RED WING AND
LADYSMITH...FOR SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED
TO DEVELOP SATURDAY MORNING ACROSS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND SPREAD
EAST SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THE HEAVIER SNOW SHOULD DEVELOP BY
AFTERNOON OVER SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND THEN AFFECT EAST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN BY LATE AFTERNOON OR EARLY
EVENING. LESSER ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR OVER EASTERN
CENTRAL MINNESOTA...WITH ONE TO THREE INCHES OF SNOW ANTICIPATED.
STAY TUNED FOR LATER UPDATES CONCERNING THIS LATEST SNOW EVENT.

MNZ077-078-083>085-091>093-WIZ016-024>028-031115-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.A.0007.111203T1200Z-111204T1200Z/
RICE-GOODHUE-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
RUSK-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FARIBAULT...RED WING...MANKATO...
WASECA...OWATONNA...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA...
LADYSMITH...RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...
DURAND...PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
909 PM CST FRI DEC 2 2011

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM CST SATURDAY
THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM CST SATURDAY
THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT. 

* TIMING...SNOW IS EXPECTED SPREAD NORTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA 
  SATURDAY MORNING. THE BULK OF THE ACCUMULATING SNOW IS 
  EXPECTED LATER SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO SATURDAY EVENING. 

* MAIN IMPACT...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 7 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE.

* OTHER IMPACTS...SNOW COVERED ROADS AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES 
  CAN BE EXPECTED SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT MAKING FOR 
  HAZARDOUS TRAVEL AND LONGER TRAVEL TIMES. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$
456 
WWUS43 KMPX 030904
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
304 AM CST SAT DEC 3 2011

...ACCUMULATING SNOW DEVELOPING THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING
TONIGHT..

.A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA...AS WELL AS
WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THIS ADVISORY AREA IS ALONG AND EAST OF A
LINE FROM FAIRMONT TO NEW ULM TO ST. MICHAEL TO RUSH CITY. THIS
ADVISORY INCLUDES THE TWIN CITIES METRO AREA. 

SNOW WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE ADVISORY AREA THIS AFTERNOON. THE
SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF TONIGHT BEFORE TAPERING OFF TO
FLURRIES TOWARD DAYBREAK SUNDAY. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4
INCHES ARE LIKELY FROM NEW ULM THROUGH THE TWIN CITIES TO RUSH
CITY AND LUCK WISCONSIN. FOUR TO LOCALLY 6 INCH AMOUNTS ARE
EXPECTED FROM FAIRMONT AND ALBERT LEA ON NORTHEAST THROUGH
FARIBAULT...RED WING...NEW RICHMOND...EAU CLAIRE...RICE LAKE AND
LADYSMITH. 

THE SNOW THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT IS ASSOCIATED WITH A LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS. THE LOW WILL MOVE TO
EASTERN WISCONSIN BY SUNDAY MORNING.

MNZ077-078-083>085-091>093-WIZ016-024>028-031715-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WS.A.0007.111203T1200Z-111204T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.WW.Y.0040.111203T1800Z-111204T1200Z/
RICE-GOODHUE-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
RUSK-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FARIBAULT...RED WING...MANKATO...
WASECA...OWATONNA...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA...
LADYSMITH...RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...
DURAND...PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
304 AM CST SAT DEC 3 2011

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 AM CST
SUNDAY...

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

* TIMING...SNOW WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND
  CONTINUE TONIGHT. MUCH OF THE ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL BE DURING
  THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. 

* MAIN IMPACT...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO LOCALLY 6 INCHES
  LIKELY.

* OTHER IMPACTS...SNOW COVERED ROADS AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES CAN
  BE EXPECTED SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY NIGHT...MAKING FOR
  HAZARDOUS TRAVEL AND LONGER TRAVEL TIMES.


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.|

&&

$$

MNZ053-060>063-067>070-074>076-082-WIZ014-015-023-031715-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WW.Y.0040.111203T1800Z-111204T1200Z/
CHISAGO-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-
DAKOTA-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-WATONWAN-POLK-BARRON-ST. CROIX-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CENTER CITY...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...
ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...GAYLORD...CHASKA...SHAKOPEE...
BURNSVILLE...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...LE SUEUR...ST. JAMES...AMERY...
BALSAM LAKE...RICE LAKE...BARRON...HUDSON...NEW RICHMOND
304 AM CST SAT DEC 3 2011

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 AM CST
SUNDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON
TODAY TO 6 AM CST SUNDAY.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND
  CONTINUE TONIGHT. MUCH OF THE ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL BE DURING
  THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. 

* MAIN IMPACT...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES LIKELY.

* OTHER IMPACTS...SNOW COVERED ROADS AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES CAN
  BE EXPECTED SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY NIGHT...MAKING FOR
  HAZARDOUS TRAVEL AND LONGER TRAVEL TIMES.

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.|

&&

$$

RAH/JLT

Nearby

Winter Storm Watches in Minnesota, 2011Winter Storm Watches in Wisconsin, 2011Every winter storm watch in 2011

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.