MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Beware the ides of just-before-March. A snow storm that dumped nearly a foot of snow on parts of northern Minnesota could be just a taste of what’s ahead this week.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for much of the eastern portion of Minnesota. There are also blizzard and storm watches along the western portion of the state. The watches include the northern part of the Twin Cities, Brainerd, St. Cloud and Eau Claire, Wis.
In the southern portion of the state, rain-snow mix could play a big role in determining how much snow will fall, says WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak.
Augustyniak says areas north of Interstate 94 have the best chance for receiving anywhere from 8 to 14 inches of snow, with possible near-whiteout conditions and significant travel problems.
Nearer to the Twin Cities, Augustyniak expects totals closer to a half-foot of snow.
“I’m also concerned that enough freezing rain will fall somewhere from the Twin Cities on south to create an ice buildup of at least a quarter inch,” he said.
Augustyniak also said some of the areas that get freezing rain have the potential to see power outages.
According to the Duluth News Tribune, totals from Sunday’s storm include 6 to 10 inches in northern Lake and Cook counties and 4 to 8 inches in northern and central St. Louis County.
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