UPDATE: New Warnings Issued as Round Two of Snow Storm Expected Thursday

Originally published 10:56 a.m. December 14th, 2022

Updated 3:39 p.m. December 14th, 2022

(KNSI) — Ding! Time for round two.

A burst of heavy snow will start overnight and fall at rates of 1″ to 1.5″ an hour between midnight and 9:00 a.m. as the snow wraps around from east to west. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Benton and Sherburne Counties for Thursday from midnight to 9:00 p.m. A winter storm warning is also posted for Kandiyohi, Meeker, Stearns and Wright Counties in effect from 3:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Precipitation may start as rain but will change to snow with another four to seven inches possible. The region will also be dealing with winds around 40 miles an hour at times which will cause patchy blowing snow, reducing visibility.

Drivers can plan on slick roads and difficult travel conditions. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says it’s a good idea to have a winter survival kit in your vehicle if you get stuck. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has updated road conditions at their 511 site. Access it by clicking here.

According to the National Weather Service, as of 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, St. Cloud had gotten 5″ of snow, but Melrose got 5.5″, Mora received 6,” and Randall received 7″. There were also sharp gradients in snow totals ranging from 2.2″ at the NWS in Chanhassen to less than half an inch 15 miles away at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport. The snow was also the heavy, wet kind, which meteorologists say was twice as much water to snow than we usually see.

The area will see the snowfall end on Friday, and temps will still be in the upper 20s, but then the highs will only be in the single digits next week.

The arctic air will remain parked over the Upper Midwest for the next couple of weeks. The Climate Prediction Center says there is nearly a 100% chance of below normal temperatures through at least December 27th.

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