Slushy Snow Gives Minn. Preview Of Things To Come
Gallery: April Ice Storm
MINNEAPOLIS (AP/WCCO) — Winter-weary southern Minnesota woke up to an inch or two of slushy snow as a preview to a heavier spring snowfall forecast to begin Wednesday night.
Over a dozen rural school districts started classes two hours late and a few districts canceled classes due to slippery roads.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation reported difficult driving conditions across much of southwestern Minnesota, with fair driving conditions on some highways in southeastern Minnesota. Driving conditions in the Twin Cities are rated good.
The snow had largely tapered off by mid-morning, but the worst is yet to come. The National Weather Service is forecasting 8 to 14 inches of wet snow across a large portion of southern Minnesota including the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Willmar and Mankato starting Wednesday night and into Thursday.
WCCO director of meteorology Mike Augustyniak says that there could be snowfall rates upwards of an inch per hour during the morning commute Thursday.
Augustyniak says that, unfortunately, there is still no major upswing in temperatures on the horizon. Augustyniak said he's looked at the extended forecast models through April 24, and he sees no real possibility for temperatures to break the 60-degree mark.
Augustyniak said that would put us within shouting distance of the record for the latest 60-degree day within the calendar year.
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