A winter weather advisory is in effect until 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, with 2-4 inches of snow possible for the Brainerd lakes area.
The advisory was issued Tuesday morning by the National Weather Service and includes the entire state of Minnesota. Northern reaches of Aitkin and Cass counties could see as much as 4-6 inches of snow; while most of Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing and Wadena counties are expected to get between 2-4 inches. Areas to the south, including Mille Lacs, Morrison and Todd counties, are expected to receive 1-3 inches of snow.
Areas expected to get the most snow include the North Shore, with 6-8 inches of snow possible, and northwest Wisconsin, with 12-18 inches of snow possible.
Snowfall will be only part of the problem.
Wind gusts of 30-40 mph blowing snow, causing low visibility and creating hazardous travel conditions, are possible through Wednesday morning, the weather service reported.
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“Expect a very hazardous Wednesday morning commute, so delay travel if you can,” the National Weather Service in Duluth reported. “If you must travel, take it slow and allow extra time to reach your destination!” The weather service also advised motorists to keep an extra flashlight, food and water in their vehicles in case of emergency.
After the winter storm exits the region, frigid cold temperatures and wind chills will return, the weather service reported. Wind chill values Wednesday night/Thursday morning look to dip into the 25 degrees below zero to 35 degrees below zero range, with colder weather to the west.
“These cold conditions will likely stick around through the upcoming weekend,” the weather service reported.
In Brainerd, the National Weather Service in Duluth forecast a high temperature of 6 degrees on Wednesday, a low of 12 degrees below zero Wednesday, a high of 3 degrees below zero Thursday, a low of 21 degrees below zero Thursday night, a high of 6 degrees Friday and a low of 4 degrees below zero Friday night. A relatively milder high temperature of 24 degrees is expected Saturday.
