Saint Cloud Included In Blizzard Warning Starting Friday Night

(KNSI) — March is going out like a lion as Sherburne and Stearns Counties are both included in a blizzard warning issued Friday afternoon by the National Weather Service.

The alert runs from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Saturday. Up to three to five inches of snow are possible along with a light glazing of ice with locally higher amounts possible. Winds of 45 miles an hour will create blowing snow and reduce visibility and make travel difficult. It could also bring down tree branches and potentially affect power lines because it will be heavy, thanks to warmer temperatures.

Benton County is in a winter storm warning until 7:00 a.m. Saturday, heavy snow is expected—total snow accumulations of two to four inches. Winds may gust as high as 50 miles an hour.

The National Weather Service says travel should be reserved only for emergencies. They say if you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Road conditions can be found here.

If you’re traveling, locally higher amounts are possible as the Twin Cities is in like for eight to 12 inches of snow, and is also included in the blizzard warning for the first time since December of 2020. The snow could sometimes be very heavy, with hourly rates of up to 2.5 inches. Strong north winds will develop with the heavy snow to produce whiteout conditions over a wide swath from west central and southwest Minnesota to west central Wisconsin.

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