Wednesday, December 23, 2009 1:13 AM Central Time
Posted by Weathernerd
Expect the next four days of weather to be very interesting. On Monday the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for the Twin Cities. Today that winter storm watch was converted to a winter storm warning in the likelihood that our area will receive in upwards of a foot of snow.
Latest forecast estimates predict that we could receive anywhere from 16 inches to 20 inches of snow by Saturday. The snowiest Christmas Eve that Minneapolis has seen in the past was in 1916 when there was 2.8 inches of snow. The most snow we've seen in the past on Christmas Day was in 1945 when over 9.6 inches of snow fell. The record two-day total for Christmas Eve and Christmas day was set in 1945 with 11.3 inches. It is looking very likely that we'll break that record.
Snow is expected to start falling Wednesday afternoon with accumulations of 3 to 4 inches Wednesday night. Thursday expects snow and sleet accumulation of 4 to 5 inches with an additional 5 inches Thursday night. Between Christmas Day and Christmas night expect another 4 to 6 inches of snow with total snow accumulations of 16 to 20 inches.
The winter storm warning remains in effect from midnight Wednesday night till 6 AM Saturday morning. Remember a winter storm warning for heavy snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or are occurring. Significant amounts of snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous.