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: Sibley; Redwood; Brown; Nicollet; Le Sueur; Rice; Watonwan; Blue Earth; Waseca; Steele
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 5 inches from Brown to Steele counties to near 12 inches in Sibley county. Sleet accumulations around one quarter of an inch, and ice accumulations around one tenth of an inch will be possible near Waseca and Owatonna. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph Sunday afternoon and evening. * WHERE...Sibley, Blue Earth, Brown, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Rice, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan, and Redwood 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. 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 Cirrus Clouds?
Home - Education - Cloud Types - Cirrus Clouds
Next Topic: Condensation
Cirrus clouds are high-level clouds that occur above 20,000 feet
and are composed mainly of ice crystals.
They are thin and wispy in appearance.
What do they indicate?
They are often the first sign of an approaching storm.
Next Topic: Condensation
Weather Topic: What are Contrails?
Home - Education - Cloud Types - Contrails
Next Topic: Cumulonimbus Clouds
A contrail is an artificial cloud, created by the passing of an
aircraft.
Contrails form because water vapor in the exhaust of aircraft engines is suspended
in the air under certain temperatures and humidity conditions. These contrails
are called exhaust contrails.
Another type of contrail can form due to a temporary reduction in air pressure
moving over the plane's surface, causing condensation.
These are called aerodynamic contrails.
When you can see your breath on a cold day, it is also because of condensation.
The reason contrails last longer than the condensation from your breath is
because the water in contrails freezes into ice particles.
Next Topic: Cumulonimbus Clouds
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