Full Notification

...HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS LIKELY ON WEDNESDAY WITH BLIZZARD CONDITIONS EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA... .A band of heavy snow will develop across the region early Wednesday morning and last through Wednesday evening. This will start as rain, and quickly transition to a heavy, wet snow, with snowfall rates of an inch per hour or greater at times. Amounts around 4 to 9 inches are expected under the axis of heaviest snow, with isolated pockets up to a foot possible. In addition to the heavy snow, northerly winds of 30 to 40 mph will develop causing blowing and drifting snow. In south central Minnesota, wind gusts could exceed 45 mph, which could lead to whiteout conditions. A Blizzard Warning has been issued in areas where there is high confidence of heavy snowfall and significant blowing snow impacts. There will likely be a very tight gradient of snowfall amounts on the northwestern edge of the system. A Winter Weather Advisory was issued to cover the threat of lesser accumulations and blowing snow impacts. For the same reason, the southern extent of the Twin Cities metro and western Wisconsin remain in a Winter Storm Watch due to uncertainty in where the main band of heavy snow will develop.

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations between 4 and 9 inches. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

* WHERE...Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Rice, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan, and Goodhue Counties.

* WHEN...From 5 AM to 7 PM CDT Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. Travel could be very difficult. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday morning and evening commutes. Strong winds could cause extensive damage to trees and power lines.

* AFFECTED AREAS: BROWN ... NICOLLET ... LE SUEUR ... RICE ... GOODHUE ... WATONWAN ... BLUE EARTH ... WASECA ... STEELE ... MARTIN ... FARIBAULT ... FREEBORN

Instructions:

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. Call 5 1 1 or visit 511mn.org for road conditions.