Alert archive / Minnesota / Winter Storm Watches in 2021

Winter Storm Watch 2, NWS Twin Cities, MN

January 22, 202113 counties in Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this winter storm watch at Jan 22, 2021, 2:41 AM CST for 13 counties in Minnesota. It took effect at Jan 23, 2021, 9:00 AM CST. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jan 22, 2021, 2:41 AM CST (08:41 UTC)
In effect from
Jan 23, 2021, 9:00 AM CST
Expired
Jan 22, 2021, 2:26 PM CST
In force
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN

Counties Blue Earth County, MN, Brown County, MN, Lac qui Parle County, MN, Le Sueur County, MN, Nicollet County, MN, Redwood County, MN, Renville County, MN, Rice County, MN, Sibley County, MN, Steele County, MN, Waseca County, MN, Watonwan County, MN, Yellow Medicine County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 89 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:38 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 00:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 87 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 00:00Z on 2021-01-22Temperature 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 00:00Z on 2021-01-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -81 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
1137 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
74 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-81 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
8 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

371 
WWUS43 KMPX 220841
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
241 AM CST Fri Jan 22 2021

...SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW EXPECTED SATURDAY INTO SATURDAY NIGHT... 

.Snow will spread into western Minnesota Saturday morning and
reach eastern Minnesota early Saturday afternoon. The snow will
end Saturday night. A band of 4 to 7 inches of snow is expected 
from west central Minnesota down through Redwood Falls, New Ulm, 
Mankato, down toward Owatonna in southeast Minnesota. 

Winds will be fairly light, out of the southeast at around 10 mph,
and temperatures will near 20 degrees. Snowfall rates will be on 
the order of a half inch to three quarters of an inch per hour at 
times. Travel impacts are likely as roads become snow covered, so
please allow for extra time to reach your destination.

MNZ067-075>077-083>085-221645-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.A.0002.210123T1800Z-210124T0900Z/
Sibley-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Blue Earth-Waseca-Steele-
Including the cities of Gaylord, St Peter, Le Sueur, Faribault, 
Mankato, Waseca, and Owatonna
241 AM CST Fri Jan 22 2021

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

* WHAT...Snow. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches 
  possible.

* WHERE...Portions of central and south central Minnesota.

* WHEN...From Saturday afternoon through late Saturday night.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. 

&&

$$

MNZ054-064-065-073-074-082-221645-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.A.0002.210123T1500Z-210124T0600Z/
Lac Qui Parle-Yellow Medicine-Renville-Redwood-Brown-Watonwan-
Including the cities of Madison, Granite Falls, Olivia, 
Redwood Falls, New Ulm, and St James
241 AM CST Fri Jan 22 2021

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

* WHAT...Snow. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches 
  possible.

* WHERE...Portions of central, south central, southwest and west 
  central Minnesota.

* WHEN...From Saturday morning through late Saturday evening.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. 

&&

$$

jrb
1 follow-up statement
282 
WWUS43 KMPX 222026
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
226 PM CST Fri Jan 22 2021

...SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW EXPECTED SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO 
SATURDAY NIGHT...

.Snow will spread into southwest Minnesota late Saturday morning 
and reach western Wisconsin during the mid-afternoon Saturday. 
The snow will end Saturday night. A widespread band of 3 to 6 
inches of snow is expected to fall along and south of a line from
Appleton, to St. Cloud, to the northern Twin Cities metro in 
Minnesota and from New Richmond to Bloomer in Wisconsin.

Within this area, a band of 6-7 inches of snow will be possible
from Redwood Falls, to Mankato and Red Wing. An upgrade to a
Winter Storm Warning may be needed across this region if
confidence in snowfall amounts this high occurring increases.

Travel impacts are likely as roads become snow covered Saturday
evening, slow down and allow for extra time to reach your 
destination.

MNZ054-064-065-073-074-082-230430-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WS.A.0002.210123T1500Z-210124T0600Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.WW.Y.0003.210123T1500Z-210124T0600Z/
Lac Qui Parle-Yellow Medicine-Renville-Redwood-Brown-Watonwan-
Including the cities of Madison, Granite Falls, Olivia, 
Redwood Falls, New Ulm, and St James
226 PM CST Fri Jan 22 2021

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM SATURDAY TO
MIDNIGHT CST SATURDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 6 
  inches.

* WHERE...Portions of central, south central, southwest and west 
  central Minnesota.

* WHEN...From 9 AM Saturday to midnight CST Saturday night.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. 

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found
at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin.

&&

$$

MNZ067-075>077-083>085-230430-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WS.A.0002.210123T1800Z-210124T0900Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.WW.Y.0003.210123T1800Z-210124T0900Z/
Sibley-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Blue Earth-Waseca-Steele-
Including the cities of Gaylord, St Peter, Le Sueur, Faribault, 
Mankato, Waseca, and Owatonna
226 PM CST Fri Jan 22 2021

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON SATURDAY TO 3 AM
CST SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 7 
  inches.

* WHERE...Portions of central and south central Minnesota.

* WHEN...From noon Saturday to 3 AM CST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. 

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found
at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin.

&&

$$

MNZ055-056-091-230430-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WW.Y.0003.210123T1500Z-210124T0600Z/
Swift-Chippewa-Martin-
Including the cities of Benson, Montevideo, and Fairmont
226 PM CST Fri Jan 22 2021

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM SATURDAY TO
MIDNIGHT CST SATURDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 
  inches.

* WHERE...Swift, Chippewa and Martin Counties.

* WHEN...From 9 AM Saturday to midnight CST Saturday night.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. 

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found
at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin.

&&

$$

MNZ049-051-057>063-066-068>070-078-092-093-230430-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WW.Y.0003.210123T1800Z-210124T0900Z/
Stearns-Sherburne-Kandiyohi-Meeker-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-
Washington-McLeod-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Goodhue-Faribault-Freeborn-
Including the cities of St Cloud, Elk River, Willmar, Litchfield,
Monticello, Minneapolis, Blaine, St Paul, Stillwater, Hutchinson,
Chanhassen, Chaska, Victoria, Shakopee, Hastings, Red Wing, 
Blue Earth, and Albert Lea
226 PM CST Fri Jan 22 2021

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON SATURDAY TO 3 AM
CST SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 6 
  inches.

* WHERE...Portions of central, east central, south central and 
  southeast Minnesota.

* WHEN...From noon Saturday to 3 AM CST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. 

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found
at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin.

&&

$$

WIZ023>028-230430-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WW.Y.0003.210123T2100Z-210124T1200Z/
St. Croix-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Chippewa-Eau Claire-
Including the cities of Hudson, River Falls, Menomonie, Durand, 
Chippewa Falls, and Eau Claire
226 PM CST Fri Jan 22 2021

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM SATURDAY TO 6 AM
CST SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 
  inches.

* WHERE...Portions of west central Wisconsin.

* WHEN...From 3 PM Saturday to 6 AM CST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. 

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found
at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin.

&&

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 22, 2:26 PM CSTWinter Weather AdvisoryMPXAnoka, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Chisago and 30 more40 hr

Nearby

Winter Storm Watches in Minnesota, 2021Every winter storm watch in 2021

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.