The pattern of being hammered by a winter storm and then falling into a quiet few weeks has so far been the norm in Minnesota in the winter, and it has been just a little over two weeks since the state last hit hard was by a storm.
Two days before Christmas, nearly 9 inches of snow fell on the Twin Cities, followed by a few inches on December 29th. Since then, only a trace of snow has been recorded. That could change later this week as a storm system predicted to turn over the Rockies and move the southwestern Canadian pastures southeast through the region.
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“A bit of moisture later in the week. It might start if rain turns into snow on Thursday, and different situations regarding the accumulation,” says meteorologist Sven Sundgaard.
“It looks like we’re seeing snowfall, especially Thursday night when things cool down to Friday. The European model is actually the most aggressive in this area – a few inches of snow possible in the western part of the state on Thursday, and then it probably translates to a stage for us (in the Twin Cities) after snow after seeing a bit of mixture on Thursday. ‘
According to the Twin Cities office of the National Weather Service, there is increasing support for a more ‘southern track’ of the system, including the European model currently being projected which, according to the weather service, would be ‘much bigger problems than light rain, icy rain’ , and avalanches. ‘
“It has a big snowstorm in eastern Dakotas and western MN from Thursday to Friday,” said the NWS Twin Cities’ forecast discussion on the European model.
Nothing is guaranteed so far ahead of the storm system, as it could easily stay north and affect Canada, while Minnesota could be windy and mostly dry.
However, the Duluth office of the NWS mentions in its forecast discussion that model guidelines indicate ‘increasing likelihood of significant snow accumulation’ in its forecast area in northern Minnesota.