Brainerd saw about 5 inches of snow Saturday night into Sunday, Dec. 5, and more was on the way Sunday evening.

The area just west of East Gull Lake saw the most accumulation in the lakes area, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Lee Britt, with about 6.5 inches.

The National Weather Service’s snowfall map showed a report of 14 inches of snow in Solway, just south of the international border, as of Sunday afternoon, and 11.5 inches northeast of Bemidji in Lavinia.

Britt said he expected about another inch to fall on Brainerd Sunday night, as Crow Wing, Pine and southern Cass and Aitkin counties were under a winter weather advisory until midnight Sunday, with gusts of wind up to 40-45 mph expected. Meanwhile, those along the North Shore were under a blizzard warning until 6 a.m. Monday, with an expected accumulation of 7-11 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 45 mph.

With the recent snow, Brainerd still sits at lower than average precipitation for the year, with 19.55 inches reported between Jan. 1 - Dec. 4, compared to a “normal” accumulation of 24.06 during that time period.

Temperatures are expected to cool down this week, after having surpassed 40 degrees in the prior week. Monday’s high is projected at 5 degrees, with a low of 3 below zero that could feel much colder with the wind chill factor. Typical temperatures around this time of year, Britt said, are highs around 30 and lows around 13.

Temperatures are expected to warm up as the week goes on, rising above freezing on Thursday. Another chance of snow is expected Friday.

Even with higher temperatures coming toward the end of the week, Britt said he doesn’t see all of the recently accumulated snow melting away before Dec. 25, meaning the lakes area is on track to have a white Christmas.

Upcoming forecast

Monday night: Mostly cloudy with a low around 3 below zero. West wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny with a high near 18. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy with a low around 4 and calm wind.

Wednesday: Partly sunny with a high near 26. Light southeast wind increasing to 5-10 mph in the morning, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy with a low around 18. Breezy, with a south wind of 10-15 mph and gusts up to 20 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny with a high near 37. South wind around 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Wind gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday night: Mostly cloudy with a low around 18. West wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Friday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy with a high near 31. West wind around 5 mph.

Friday night: A slight chance of snow. Mostly cloudy with a low around 11. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa .

1/4: Snow falls on a wreath along Laurel Street Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in downtown Brainerd. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

2/4: Snow falls on Laurel Street Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in downtown Brainerd. The city saw about 5 inches of Snow by Sunday morning, with more expected to accumulate overnight. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

3/4: Snow falls on a wreath along Laurel Street Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in downtown Brainerd. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

4/4: Snow falls on a wreath along Laurel Street Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in downtown Brainerd. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch