Winter Storm Watch Issued for Central Minnesota

(KNSI) — The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for a large swath of Minnesota, which cuts right through the St. Cloud area.

The watch goes into effect at 10:00 Thursday morning and goes through 7:00 a.m. Friday morning. Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns Counties are all affected, as are the surrounding counties of Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Mille Lacs, Meeker, Morrison, and Wright. The watch also stretches up toward Duluth and southeast through the Twin Cities, down toward Mankato, Willmar, and western and southwestern Minnesota.

Forecasters are watching a system moving in from the west coast with a ton of gulf moisture, a deepening low pressure system and cold Canadian air all wrapped into it, making for a dumping of heavy, wet snow. Wind gusts of around 40 miles an hour will also make for areas of patchy blowing snow.

For now, the area could see four to seven inches, with a light glazing of ice possible as well. Roads will become slick and blowing snow will cause a drop in visibility.

See the latest road conditions by clicking here.

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