St. Cloud Area Under Winter Storm Watch With Heavy Snow, 40 Mile Per Hour Winds Expected Tuesday

(KNSI) — A winter storm watch has been issued for much of central Minnesota from Tuesday afternoon through early Wednesday morning.

Forecasters say a fast-moving clipper system is expected to bring heavy, accumulating snow to the region. Snow should start falling in central Minnesota early Tuesday afternoon, then spread southeast into western Wisconsin by Tuesday evening. The heaviest snow is expected along and north of Interstate 94, where a narrow band could drop between 4″ and 7″. Along with the snow, winds will pick up with gusts reaching 30 to 40 miles an hour at times. There is a very sharp line between who will get rain and who will get the most snow. Forecasters say even a small change in the storm track can lead to large fluctuations in accumulation amounts.

That gradient cuts right through central Minnesota from Fergus Falls to Black River Falls, Wisconsin. There is a chance of freezing rain along the transition line. In less than 20 miles, snowfall amounts could go from less than an inch to that 4″ to 7″ range.

The timing means Tuesday’s evening commute could be tricky with slippery roads. The snow should taper off from west to east on Wednesday morning.

The watch officially goes into effect at noon Tuesday and will expire at 6:00 Wednesday morning.

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