Snow, Arctic Cold Moving In
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- WCCO Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak is calling it: we're going to have a white Christmas!
We will have enough snow to shovel and plow, especially southwest of the Twin Cities.
The southwestern and south central parts of Minnesota were the first to get hit in the early afternoon Saturday. The Twin Cities, which will see a high of 14 degrees Saturday, experienced fluffy snow early on.
Several parts of Minnesota were at the zero-degree mark for most of Saturday, with winds moving from the northeast at about 10 miles per hour.
The snow began accumulating around 2 p.m. in the Twin Cities Saturday. WCCO meteorologist Matt Brickman said the metro would not see blizzard-like conditions, just steady, light snow. Those fluffy snowflakes are really going to add up, though.
Northern Minnesota will be left out initially, with only some light snow in store on Sunday.
The snow will get intense in the Twin Cities overnight and continue through lunch time Sunday, tapering off in the afternoon.
The southern part of the state will get the most snow, with 8 to 9 inches expected.
WCCO meteorologist Matt Brickman said the Twin Cities could receive 3 to 6 inches. Central Minnesota could get 2 to 4 inches. And northern Minnesota is getting off easy, with a coating to 2 inches predicted.
Roads were dangerous Saturday. The National Weather Service issued a warning on Twitter to drivers.
Take it slow out there Twin Cities! The accidents are starting to pile up due to slippery roads - follow @MnDOTtraffic for the latest #mnwx pic.twitter.com/6YbTt8cgwd
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) December 10, 2016
As of 9:30 p.m., parts of southern Minnesota had seen as much as 5 1/2 inches of snow. MSP Airport reported 0.8 inches as of 7 p.m.
West St. Paul and Crystal both declared snow emergencies for Sunday.
The incoming storm will push warm air through the state briefly, but arctic air will start rolling in Monday night into Tuesday – providing a double whammy of really cold temperatures and high winds.
The Twin Cities will see a high in the 20s Sunday, but temps will fall sharply by Monday – and don't expect to see any of our average numbers until around Christmas.
For the latest, visit the WCCO Weather Center or download our weather app for your smartphone.