Stearns County Added to Winter Weather Advisory, Wind Chill Watch

(KNSI) – Stearns County will be under various forms of watches and advisories for winter weather from noon Friday until Tuesday, January 16th.

We are right on the edge of a system that is expected to drop up to a half foot of snow on Mankato and as much as 11 inches on La Crosse, Wisconsin. Through Saturday morning, the southeastern portion of Stearns County, including Clearwater, Eden Valley, Kimball, Paynesville, St. Augusta, and St. Cloud will see anywhere from flurries to three inches of fresh powder. Sherburne County is also included in that zone.

Maximum snow forecasts for central and western Stearns County and Benton County top out at about two inches. The likelihood of little to no precipitation is significantly greater in those areas.

Winds will pick up after that, causing blowing snow and limited visibility on the roads. If you are outside, be careful. A wind chill watch from Saturday to Tuesday suggests it will feel like 35-below at times.

Sunday and Monday will be the coldest air of the season so far. The National Weather Service forecasts a near-certain probability of wind chills of at least 20 degrees below zero. Frostbite could develop in exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.

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