Alert archive / Minnesota / Winter Storm Watches in 2012

Winter Storm Watch 4, NWS Twin Cities, MN

December 18, 2012Faribault County, Freeborn County, Martin County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this winter storm watch at Dec 18, 2012, 5:50 PM CST for Faribault County, Freeborn County, Martin County, Minnesota. It took effect at Dec 19, 2012, 6:00 PM CST. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Dec 18, 2012, 5:50 PM CST (23:50 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 19, 2012, 6:00 PM CST
Expired
Dec 19, 2012, 4:19 AM CST
In force
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN

Counties Faribault County, MN, Freeborn County, MN, Martin County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 134 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:49 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, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 134 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 2012-12-18Temperature 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 2012-12-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 66 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
505 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
66 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
130 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.

679 
WWUS43 KMPX 182350
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
550 PM CST TUE DEC 18 2012

...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW FOR FAR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA WEDNESDAY
NIGHT AND THURSDAY..

.A WINTER STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND
THURSDAY FOR FAR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. THE WATCH IS ALONG THE
INTERSTATE 90 CORRIDOR AND INCLUDES MARTIN...FARIBAULT AND
FREEBORN COUNTIES. SNOW WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA BY WEDNESDAY
EVENING AND CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY MORNING WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF
ACCUMULATION LIKELY. IN ADDITION...STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS WILL
DEVELOP WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY ON THURSDAY.
WINDS SPEEDS FROM 20 TO 35 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. THIS WOULD LIKELY
RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH NEAR
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. COMPLICATING MATTERS IS THE SEVERAL INCHES OF
FRESH SNOW THAT FELL ACROSS THE AREA TUESDAY MORNING WHICH MAY
ALSO BE PICKED UP BY THE STRONG WINDS.  

MNZ091>093-190800-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.A.0004.121220T0000Z-121221T0000Z/
MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA
550 PM CST TUE DEC 18 2012

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

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

* TIMING...SNOW AND STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH
  THE STRONG WINDS CONTINUING ON THURSDAY.

* IMPACTS...TWO TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH NORTHERLY
  WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH. THE STRONG WINDS CONTINUING ON THURSDAY
  WITH GUSTS REACHING 35 TO 40 MPH.

* OTHER IMPACTS...CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH NEAR
  WHITE OUT CONDITIONS ON THURSDAY.

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.

&&

$$

RAH/JB
1 follow-up statement
562 
WWUS43 KMPX 191019
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
419 AM CST WED DEC 19 2012

...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW IS EXPECTED IN FAR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND
PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN TONIGHT AND THURSDAY...

.A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT AND THURSDAY FOR FAR
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. THE WARNING IS ALONG THE INTERSTATE 90
CORRIDOR AND INCLUDES MARTIN...FARIBAULT AND FREEBORN COUNTIES. A
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED FOR STEELE AND
GOODHUE COUNTIES IN MINNESOTA...AND PEPIN AND EAU CLAIRE COUNTIES
IN WISCONSIN.

SNOW WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA LATE THIS EVENING AND CONTINUE
INTO THURSDAY MORNING WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF ACCUMULATION LIKELY.
IN ADDITION...STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP TONIGHT AND
CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY ON THURSDAY. WIND SPEEDS FROM 20 TO 35
MPH ARE POSSIBLE. THIS WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE BLOWING
AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS IN SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA WHERE THERE IS A WINTER STORM WARNING. IN
ADDITION...SEVERAL INCHES OF FRESH SNOW FELL ACROSS THE WARNING
AREA TUESDAY MORNING WHICH MAY ALSO BE PICKED UP BY THE STRONG
WINDS.

MNZ091>093-191830-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WS.A.0004.121220T0000Z-121221T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.W.0003.121220T0300Z-121221T0000Z/
MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA
419 AM CST WED DEC 19 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM
CST THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOWFALL AND BLOWING SNOW...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM CST THURSDAY. THE WINTER
STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL BEGIN TONIGHT WITH THE STRONG WINDS TO FOLLOW
  THURSDAY.

* IMPACTS...1 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED BY THURSDAY
  AFTERNOON. STRONG SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH AND GUSTS
  REACHING 35 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY AS WELL.

* MAIN IMPACT...TRAVEL ALONG I-90 AND OTHER RURAL ROADS MAY BECOME
  DIFFICULT WHEN THE WINDS INCREASE AND VISIBILITY DROPS. CONSIDERABLE
  BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH NEAR WHITE OUT CONDITIONS ON
  THURSDAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING 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.

&&

$$

MNZ078-085-WIZ026-028-191830-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WW.Y.0011.121220T0300Z-121221T0000Z/
GOODHUE-STEELE-PEPIN-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...RED WING...OWATONNA...DURAND...PEPIN...
EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
419 AM CST WED DEC 19 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO
6 PM CST THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOWFALL AND BLOWING SNOW...WHICH IS
IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM CST THURSDAY.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL BEGIN TONIGHT WITH THE STRONG WINDS TO FOLLOW
  THURSDAY.

* MAIN IMPACT...2 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED BY THURSDAY
  AFTERNOON. STRONG SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH AND GUSTS
  REACHING 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY AS WELL.

* OTHER IMPACTS...BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW COULD MAKE FOR
  DIFFICULT TRAVEL ON THURSDAY.

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.

&&

$$

Nearby

Winter Storm Watches in Minnesota, 2012Every winter storm watch in 2012

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.