A fresh dusting of snow could be the first glimpse of what may be a snowy week.
While the lakes region wasn't expected to get much more than an inch Tuesday, Feb. 5, a long period of snowfall-arriving late Wednesday afternoon through the day Thursday-could drop an additional 4-7 inches with the potential for up to 9 inches.
"This long period of snowfall will result in a storm total of 4-7 inches plus for the Northland, with locally higher amounts possible along the western Lake Superior shoreline," the National Weather Service in Duluth reported. "This snowfall is likely to impact the Thursday morning commute due to snow causing roads to be slippery, and visibility as low as a half-mile or less at times. Snow ends Thursday evening from west to east."
Snowfall timing
The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for northeastern Minnesota from 6 p.m. Wednesday until 6 p.m. Thursday. The snow is expected to fall mainly after 11 a.m. Wednesday and continue all day Thursday until 6 p.m. The weather service expects the heavier snow-potentially 4-6 inches-in Cass and Crow Wing, northern Aitkin, Todd and northwestern Morrison counties to fall Wednesday into Thursday morning and additional, lighter amounts of snow-possibly 2-3 inches-could accumulate throughout the day Thursday.
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"Travel could be very difficult," the weather service reported. "Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening
commute."
And as an indication the cold weather is not relinquishing its grip, the weather service noted wind chill advisories may be needed Friday and Saturday mornings. So shovelers may want to get after it sooner rather than later. Thursday may reach 13 degrees for a high with blustery conditions and a gusting northwest wind.
The forecast calls for a sunny but colder Friday with a high near zero and an overnight temp of 20 below. Saturday may rise to a high near 5 degrees with a slight chance for more snow. Sunday may reach 10 degrees and provide another chance for snow showers after noon. The pattern of possible snow and cool temperatures is repeated Monday when the high may rise to the upper teens.
While temperatures moderated to highs in the upper 20s in the polar vortex's aftermath, highs did not move above freezing. On Feb. 2, Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring and while that is rare-USA Today noted this year marks just the 19th time out of 123 years of recorded history where the groundhog hasn't seen his shadow-it was also noted Phil is quite often wrong in his predictions. Wrong or not, the calendar is inevitable and spring is 42 days away.
