Weather Story

Timing For Two Rounds of Wintry Precipitation

Forecast Snowfall and Ice Through Thursday Evening

Additional Icing Possible Friday

The first of two rounds of wintry precipitation will be spreading northeast across the area this evening and tonight. Later tonight, and into Thursday, the rain will transition to a mixture of freezing rain and sleet, followed by some snow in the north Thursday afternoon. A few isolated thunderstorms are possible in northwest Iowa Thursday night into earlyFriday morning, but most of the area should remain dry. The second round of precipitation should begin around sunrise Friday morning, and continue until late morning or early afternoon Saturday. A wintry mix is likely Friday morning, especially north, but a transition to some rain, especially south, should occur in the afternoon. As the weather system moves out Friday night and the first half of Saturday, snow showers will be the dominant precipitation type. If you have travel plans the next few days, keep an eye on the latest local forecasts and road conditions!

Small amounts of snow and ice will accompany this late winter weather system tonight through Thursday evening, mainly north of Interstate 90. Snowfall toward U.S. Highway 14 could approach 1 inch, with 1 to 3 inches more likely toward northeast South Dakota and west central Minnesota. There will also generally be a 30 to 50 percent risk of 1 tenth or more ice accretion in the Buffalo Ridge area of southwest Minnesota and east central South Dakota. South of Interstate 90 the majority of the precipitation should fall as rain. Allow extra time if traveling across or into these areas tonight or Thursday, and increase your following distance behind other vehicles.