NWS warns of slushy Tuesday commute
Meteorologists warn of a slushy Tuesday morning that could affect commutes across southern Minnesota as a west‑to‑east band of precipitation — producing light slush, damp pavement and slick spots from around Marshall/Redwood Falls toward Mankato, Faribault and Rochester and brushing the southern Twin Cities — shifts east by mid to late morning; MnDOT crews will monitor roads overnight and into Tuesday, though full plowing isn't expected yet. A stronger system then moves in late Tuesday into Wednesday, prompting a Winter Storm Warning for the Twin Cities from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday with 4–8 inches possible, heavy snowfall rates near 1 in./hr, strong winds with gusts near 50 mph, and advisories to avoid nonessential travel Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
📌 Key Facts
- NWS issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Twin Cities from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday; metro snowfall forecast increased to 4–8 inches with heavy rates near 1 inch/hour possible.
- Forecast shows a west–east accumulation band most likely from Marshall/Redwood Falls toward Mankato, Faribault and Rochester; there is potential for a burst of heavy snow north of the metro and rain/freezing‑rain/wintry mix in and west‑southwest of the metro.
- Winds are expected SW 20–40 mph, turning NW after about 6 p.m., with gusts approaching 50 mph.
- Alert geography: the majority of Minnesota is in a Winter Weather Advisory while the north metro into north‑central Minnesota is in a Winter Storm Warning.
- NWS recommends avoiding non‑essential travel Tuesday night through Wednesday morning; the best travel windows are Tuesday morning or Wednesday afternoon.
- MnDOT says crews will monitor roads overnight and into Tuesday morning (full plowing likely not needed yet); as of 5:45 a.m. light slush, damp pavement and slick spots were reported east of Norwood Young America, south of Hutchinson, and near Olivia, and precipitation had brushed the southern Twin Cities metro (Jordan–Lakeville–Hastings) with no crashes reported so far.
- Forecast timeline evolved: earlier guidance called for a slushy Tuesday morning with the system shifting east by mid‑to‑late morning, but later updates increased totals and shifted the period of heaviest snow into late Tuesday night into early Wednesday.
📰 Sources (5)
MN weather: Tracking snow, freezing rain on Tuesday
New information:
- Forecast details a SW wind 20–40 mph turning NW after 6 p.m. with gusts approaching 50 mph.
- Precipitation split: potential burst of heavy snow north of the metro; rain/freezing rain/wintry mix in and west–southwest of the metro.
- Geography of alerts: majority of Minnesota in a Winter Weather Advisory; north metro into north‑central Minnesota in a Winter Storm Warning.
- Timeline specifics: flurries arrive late morning from western Minnesota; snow tapers late Tuesday with spotty overnight flurries.
Winter storm warning goes into effect for Twin Cities late Tuesday
New information:
- NWS Twin Cities has now issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Twin Cities from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday.
- Forecast snowfall for the metro increased to 4–8 inches, with heavy rates near 1 inch/hour possible.
- NWS advises avoiding non‑essential travel Tuesday night through Wednesday morning; best windows are Tuesday morning or Wednesday afternoon.
Road conditions: Rainy mix could create some slick spots in southern MN
New information:
- As of 5:45 a.m., MnDOT reported light slush, damp pavement and slick spots east of Norwood Young America, south of Hutchinson, and near Olivia.
- Precipitation reached as far north as Jordan–Lakeville–Hastings, brushing the southern Twin Cities metro; no crashes reported so far.
- System expected to shift east by mid to late morning, leaving a mostly dry remainder of the day.
Minnesota weather: Winter weather advisory, slushy start Tuesday morning
New information:
- MnDOT says crews will stay ready and monitor roads overnight and into Tuesday morning, though full plowing is likely not needed yet.
- Forecast pinpoints a west–east band most likely for accumulation from Marshall/Redwood Falls toward Mankato, Faribault and Rochester.