Amanda Kelley got the call from her sons' schools on Thursday night: Friday's forecasted snow — perhaps more than a foot — meant classes were called off in Winona and Goodview. The boys, ages 9 and 12, had already gone to bed, so Kelley and her husband hatched a plan to let the family's Elf on the Shelf deliver the news.
Thanks to an unfortunate dishwasher issue, the kitchen floors in their Stockton house were covered in plywood and set for a redo. By morning, the mischievous elf was hugging a can of spray paint next to words scrawled onto the floor: "SNOW DAY."
"I'm not a winter person, but there's something about the first big snowfall that is always exciting," Kelley said. Her sons agreed: They jumped up and down when they saw the elf's work and spent the day outside, burying each other in snow.
Snow started to fall south of the metro by early Friday afternoon. Just before 2 p.m., about 2.3 inches of snow was reported in Northfield and 1.5 inches in Faribault, according to the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen.
Schools across the metro planned to release students early, and Minneapolis and St. Paul called off after-school activities. Hennepin County District Judge Regina Chu ended proceedings in the Kimberly Potter manslaughter trial in downtown Minneapolis about two hours early due to the snowy weather's potential for slowing travel for jurors and others.
Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center and West St. Paulwere among the cities to declare snow emergencies starting Friday night.
As of 2 p.m., the storm was tracking as forecast, with the largest amounts of snow — 10 to 14 inches — expected along a band from Lakeville south to Faribault. Most of the snow is expected during late afternoon and early evening.
The flakes will be heavy, wet and fast, falling at up to 2 inches per hour in areas just south of the Twin Cities, according to the NWS. That may cause headaches for drivers during the evening commute, since it can be difficult for plows to keep up with snow accumulating that quickly, said Michelle Margraf, a meteorologist at the NWS office in Chanhassen.
Unlike the light, fluffy snow that fell earlier this week, this round will likely require a shovel or snow blower. Snow-removal companies were advertising all over social media on Friday, and hardware stores were seeing an influx of last-minute shoppers looking for shovels and ice melt.
"That's pretty typical, especially early in the season," said Sam Welna, manager of Welna Hardware in Minneapolis. "People sometimes forget what they need until they need it."
By the time the storm wraps up early Saturday, Carver and Scott counties in the south and southwest metro could see close to a foot of snow, Margraf said. The far north metro will see the least snow, with up to 4 inches, while Minneapolis, St. Paul and the southern suburbs are in line for about 8 inches, she said.
A winter storm warning is in effect from 9 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday, stretching from Worthington and Marshall in southwest Minnesota through the Twin Cities and into western Wisconsin, the weather service said.
The hefty snowfall is likely to trigger the first snow emergency of the season. Minneapolis is imploring residents to pay attention foralertsposted on its website and social media accounts, and to follow the rules. Doing so allows plows to clear the streets and vehicle owners can avoid a ticket and tow, said Minneapolis spokeswoman Sarah McKenzie.
The white landscape, however, may be fleeting. Temperatures are forecast to soar into the 40s by Tuesday and Wednesday and bring significant melting. Thermometers in southern Minnesota may even register 50 degrees or warmer, Hewett said.
"It is an unusual warm-up," said Brent Hewett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Chanhassen. "You could call it a December Thaw."
Kelley's sons plan to enjoy the snow while it lasts. They are both "full believers in Christmas magic," she said, and won't miss the opportunity to sled or push snow around with their toy plows.
When they saw the message from their little elf on Friday morning — alongside a spray painted snowman, Christmas tree and candy cane — they immediately started planning how to best enjoy the snow, jumping around and saying, "This is going to be the best day ever!"
Staff writer David Chanen contributed to this report.
"heavy" - Google News
December 11, 2021 at 03:35AM
https://ift.tt/3dFGkhd
Twin Cities area braces for heavy snowfall through the evening - Minneapolis Star Tribune
"heavy" - Google News
https://ift.tt/35FbxvS
https://ift.tt/3c3RoCk
heavy
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Twin Cities area braces for heavy snowfall through the evening - Minneapolis Star Tribune"
Post a Comment