A late weekend snowstorm may bring a wintry mix and a few inches of snow to the Brainerd lakes area, but a southerly shift to the storm track should move the heaviest snow to the south.
The National Weather Service in Duluth issued an update Friday afternoon on the expected snowmaker coming in from the west. The heaviest snow may fall in the southern part of Morrison County into Mille Lacs County and across southern Aitkin County as it moves toward Duluth.
The northern two-thirds of Wadena and Cass counties and the northwestern edge of Crow Wing and Aitkin counties may receive less than 2 inches. The farther south the heavier the bands may be, so depending on the final track, the Brainerd and Baxter areas may get a few inches with the southern part of Morrison County perhaps receiving 5 inches of snow. Closer to the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota there may be even heavier snowfall with the brunt of the storm dropping up to a foot of snow in Wisconsin.
Light snow showers are anticipated in the Brainerd lakes area beginning Sunday morning with a chance of snow after noon. Snow is likely before 5 a.m. Monday, possibly mixed with freezing rain. Snow is again likely before 7 a.m. Monday and after 10 a.m., perhaps mixed with freezing rain in between.
After a dip into the low 20s after the snowfall, the temperature is expected to rebound to near 30 by the end of next week.
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The National Weather Service expects the snow to last into Monday night. The storm may be accompanied by strong winds, which will cause blowing and drifting. The storm will begin hitting the southern track first on Sunday afternoon and will spread north through Sunday night.
The weather service has a high confidence regarding the storm and moderate confidence for the heaviest snow track. More details will become clear and updates provided as the storm draws closer.
Residents may provide snow reports using the free mPING app to report precipitation type and accumulation. The app is available for iPhones and iPads and on Android devices. Go to https://mping.ou.edu/ to view reports online. To measure snow, take a yardstick or ruler to a flat open area away from buildings or trees. Take a measurement in several different spots. Check with www.511mn.org for the latest road conditions. Motorists are advised to clear snow and ice from their windows and lights, to brake early and slow down for conditions and to avoid using cruise control.
