Weather Alert in Minnesota
Blizzard Warning issued March 14 at 1:08PM CDT until March 16 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
AREAS AFFECTED: Stevens; Pope; Lac Qui Parle; Swift; Chippewa; Kandiyohi; Meeker; Yellow Medicine; Renville; McLeod
DESCRIPTION: ...HISTORIC MARCH WINTER STORM ON TRACK TO BRING EXTREME SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND STRONG WINDS... ...A WINTRY MIX OF RAIN, FREEZING RAIN, AND SLEET LATE TONIGHT ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA... ...TRAVEL MAY BECOME IMPOSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY... .A historic March winter storm will move across the Upper Midwest starting this evening and lasting into Sunday night. Heavy snow with a broad area of 12 to 18 inches expected across central Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A narrow swath within the broader area may approach 2 feet in parts of far east central Minnesota and west central Wisconsin. Rates of 2 to 2.5 inches per hour are likely late tonight into Sunday morning. A wintry mix of rain, freezing rain, and sleet is expected to work north into I-90 corridor of southern Minnesota tonight. A half inch of sleet and a tenth of an inch of ice are expected along the I-90 corridor. The wintry mix will turn to all snow Sunday morning. Winds will increase on Sunday. Even though the snow will be tapering off gradually throughout Sunday, northwest winds will increase to 35 to 45 mph. Some gusts of 50 to 55 mph are possible across the Minnesota River Valley. The combination of falling snow, blowing snow, and gusty winds will reduce visibility and create blizzard conditions late tonight through Sunday evening across central and southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Travel is expected to become very difficult or impossible late tonight through Sunday evening. In addition, the amount of water in the snowpack will make it very heavy, leading to the potential for infrastructure damage and a health hazard for those shoveling. * WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations between 10 and 17 inches. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph Sunday afternoon and evening. * WHERE...Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Pope, Stevens, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties. * WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 4 AM CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Strong winds could cause extensive damage to trees and power lines.
INSTRUCTION: Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. Call 5 1 1 or visit 511mn.org for road conditions. Prepare now for potential road closures. Delay travel and shelter in place once conditions worsen. Remember, if interstate highways are closed, state highways and county roads are also impassable.
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Weather Topic: What are Altostratus Clouds?
Home - Education - Cloud Types - Altostratus Clouds
Next Topic: Cirrocumulus Clouds
Altostratus clouds form at mid to high-level altitudes
(between 2 and 7 km) and are created by a warm, stable air mass which causes
water vapor
to condense as it rise through the atmosphere. Usually altostratus clouds are
featureless sheets characterized by a uniform color.
In some cases, wind punching through the cloud formation may give it a waved
appearance, called altostratus undulatus. Altostratus clouds
are commonly seen with other cloud formations accompanying them.
Next Topic: Cirrocumulus Clouds
Weather Topic: What are Cirrostratus Clouds?
Home - Education - Cloud Types - Cirrostratus Clouds
Next Topic: Cirrus Clouds
Cirrostratus clouds are high, thin clouds that form above
20,000 feet and are made mostly of ice crystals. They sometimes look like giant
feathers, horse tails, or curls of hair in the sky.
These clouds are pushed by the jet stream and can move at high speeds reaching
100 mph.
What do they indicate?
They indicate that a precipitation is likely within 24 hours.
Next Topic: Cirrus Clouds
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