Be Careful Out There!

Current warning for Chippewa, Dunn, and St. Croix Counties

AREAS AFFECTED : CHIPPEWA; DUNN; ST. CROIX ...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS EXPECTED ACROSS WEST CENTRAL INTO SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING... ...SEVERE WINTER TRAVEL CONDITIONS ALSO LIKELY ACROSS THE REST OF THE SOUTHERN HALF OF MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN BEGINNING LATE TODAY... .A significant winter storm will develop this afternoon and continue through Saturday night. All precipitation types, strong winds, and blizzard conditions will occur in this winter storm. A Blizzard Warning is in effect tonight through Saturday evening for west central and south central Minnesota. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for most of east central and a portion of south central Minnesota and all of west central Wisconsin. St Cloud, the Twin Cities, Mankato and Albert Lea are included in the warning. As well as Rice Lake, Ladysmith and Eau Claire Wisconsin. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for areas north of the warning areas. Heavy snow will begin this evening. In addition to the heavy snow, strong gusty winds of 40 to 50 mph will bring blizzard conditions to western and central Minnesota. The best chance for whiteouts will be late Friday night across west central Minnesota. A wintry mix is expected across east central Minnesota, and west central Wisconsin Friday evening, before changing to all snow by Saturday morning. Total snow accumulations of 8 to 15 inches are expected from west central and southwest Minnesota to east central Minnesota and northern Wisconsin, with totals nearing 18 inches possible across southwest Minnesota. Totals will taper off to 4 to 8 inches across south central Minnesota. There will likely be a sharp gradient north of the heavy snow band. In addition, total sleet and ice accumulations of one to two tenths of an inch are possible across the southern third of Minnesota into west central Wisconsin. ...

WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 AM CDT SUNDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow. Total snow accumulations of 7 to 10 inches, with localized amounts up to 12 inches are expected. * WHERE...Portions of west central Wisconsin and central, east central and south central Minnesota. * WHEN...From 10 PM this evening to 1 AM CDT Sunday. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on difficult travel conditions. Tree branches could fall. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph will cause patchy blowing and drifting snow.