The good news? Below-zero temperatures that gripped the Brainerd lakes area about a week ago that were daytime highs are not forecasted for this week. The bad news? More snow.
Snowplows were slated to take to the roads the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 10, according to the Crow Wing County's Facebook page, because "roads will be snow covered and slippery," and motorists on county roads were implored to take "extra time to get to your destination."
"This is a fairly typical system coming through, bringing some light snow. We were expecting 1 to 2 inches of snow in the Brainerd area," National Weather Service meteorologist Geoffrey Grochocinski said Sunday afternoon.
The National Weather Service in Duluth predicted a winter storm Monday night through Tuesday with a relatively high chance of snow. The potential snowfall comes on the heels of last week's winter storm, which dropped almost 8 inches of snow Thursday and challenged morning commuters.
"All these events ... they all start to bleed together, one system to another," Grochocinski said.
ADVERTISEMENT
As of Sunday afternoon, the National Weather Service in Duluth reported a 30 percent chance of snow accumulation of 6 inches or more when snowfall resumes about 9 p.m. Monday after tapering off Sunday night.
"We're expecting another storm system to move through the region Monday night through Tuesday. The heavier snow is going to be much farther off, east of the Brainerd lakes area," Grochocinski said.
"For instance, there's a good chance of 6 or more inches in northwest Wisconsin, maybe getting into parts of east central Minnesota, but more like 4 to 6 inches for the Brainerd lakes area with this storm."
There will be several periods of lake effect snow along the South Shore Tuesday night through the weekend, and some accumulation will occur, according to the National Weather Service in Duluth.
"I don't think we're going to see a record, but it's been a particularly snowy last two to three weeks. ... This is some interesting weather we've been getting," Grochocinski said.
"It looks like for the next week or two it will remain fairly cold. ... At least through the week, there will be highs mostly in the teens or 20s-I would say mostly in the teens-and we're not looking for a thaw for probably at least a couple of weeks."
Travel will be difficult and hazardous, including the Tuesday commutes, according to the National Weather Service in Duluth. Motorists can visit www.511mn.org for the latest road conditions provided by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
But just how bad will it be? A Tuesday open house at the National Weather Service in Duluth was rescheduled for March 15 due to the winter storm impacting that region.
ADVERTISEMENT
National Weather Service senior meteorologist Jonathan Wolfe wrote in an email: "I apologize for the weather not cooperating; it doesn't always listen to us. ;-)"
