Enterprise Dispatch Blog

WRIGHT & MEEKER COUNTIES, MN — The National Weather Service has upgraded the winter weather advisory for a winter storm that is expected to move through the area Monday evening until Tuesday late afternoon.  The Weather Service has upgraded the watch to a full blown warning of winter weather conditions, which may include blizzard like conditions due to strong winds; the potential for freezing rain also exists.  The following is a detailed summary of the press release from the NWS:

WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 PM CDT TUESDAY
UNTIL 1:00AM CDT
Urgent - Winter Weather Message National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 342 PM CDT Mon Mar 30 2009, Early Spring Snow Storm To Affect Much Of West Central And Central Minnesota Tonight Through Tuesday Night,

.The Winter Storm Warning For West Central Minnesota Remains In Effect From 7 PM This Evening Through Tuesday. Snow Is Expected To Develop Over Western Minnesota This Evening, As An Area Of Low Pressure Lifts Northeast From Nebraska Into Southeast Minnesota Tuesday. Heavier Snow Will Develop Over West Central Minnesota By Midnight And Is Expected To Continue Through Tuesday Afternoon.

The Winter Storm Warning Becomes Effective At 7 PM This Evening Through Tuesday Evening For An Area Northwest Of A Line, From Near Granite Falls, To Saint Cloud, To Mora Minnesota. A Winter Weather Advisory Remains In Effect From 10 PM This Evening Through Tuesday Evening For Parts Of Central And Eastern Minnesota And West Central Wisconsin. Mainly Along And North Of An New Ulm, To The Southern Part Of The Twin Cities, To Eau Claire Wisconsin Line.

Snowfall Totals Within The Warned Area Will Generally Range From 6 To 10 Inches, With Locally Higher Amounts. Areas From Madison To Long Prairie Minnesota Will See The Heaviest Snowfall, With Storm Totals Likely Near 15 Inches. Strong Winds Are Expected To Accompany The Heavy Snowfall Within The Warned Area. This May Significantly Reduce Visibilities And Even Create Near Blizzard Conditions, Especially Across Far West Central Minnesota.

Within The Advisory Area, There Is Expected To Be A Sharp Gradient In The Total Snowfall Amounts And Precipitation Type. Presently, The Forecast Calls For One, To Locally Six Inches Of Snow, With The Potential Of Light Sleet Accumulations As Well. This May Lead To Hazardous Travel Conditions Developing Later Tonight. By Tuesday, .Most Areas Within The Advisory Will Have Changed Over To Rain Before Changing Back To Snow Tuesday Night As The Low Pulls Into Northeast Minnesota.

Due To The Overall Nature Of This Storm System, And The Impacts It Will Have Across The Upper Midwest And Northern Plains, Please Continue To Monitor Future Forecasts And Winter Weather Messages For Updates On The Expected Track And Snowfall Amounts From This Latest Storm System.

Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns- Benton-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-Kandiyohi-Meeker- Yellow Medicine- Including The Cities Of, Alexandria, Long Prairie, Little Falls, Princeton, Mora, Morris, Glenwood, St. Cloud, Foley, Madison, Benson, Montevideo, Willmar, Litchfield, Granite Falls 342 PM CDT Mon Mar 30 2009

, Winter Storm Warning Remains In Effect From 7 PM This Evening To 7 PM CDT Tuesday,

A Winter Storm Warning Remains In Effect From 7 PM This Evening To 7 PM CDT Tuesday.

A Dry East Wind Has Delayed The Onset Of Light Snow Across This Area During The Afternoon. However, Light Snow Is Expected To Develop This Evening And It Will Become Heavy At Times, Especially After Midnight. Snow, Occasionally Heavy At Times, Will Continue Through Tuesday Across West Central And Central Minnesota Before Tapering Off To Light Snow Or Flurries Tuesday Evening. Total Snowfall Accumulations Through Tuesday Evening Are Expected To Be 6 To 12 Inches, With Locally Higher Amounts. Areas From Madison To Long Prairie Minnesota Will See The Heaviest Snows Totals With Amounts Near 15 Inches. Strong Winds Are Expected To Accompany The Heavy Snowfall Within The Warned Area. This May Significantly Reduce Visibilities And Even Create Near Blizzard Conditions, Especially Across Far West Central Minnesota.

A Winter Storm Warning For Heavy Snow Means Severe Winter Weather Conditions Are Expected Or Occurring. Significant Amounts Of Snow Are Forecast That Will Make Travel Dangerous. Only Travel In An Emergency. If You Must Travel, Keep An Extra Flashlight, Food, And Water In Your Vehicle In Case Of An Emergency.