Calm Before the Storms

Todd's Conservation Minnesota Outlook for the Twin Cities and all of Minnesota

SUNDAY: Maybe a few flakes, otherwise a mix of clouds and sun and still chilly. High: 14

SUNDAY NIGHT: Calm and quiet, nothing stressful. Low: 4

MONDAY: Mostly cloudy with a growing potential of some snow accumulations. High: 22

TUESDAY: Last day of fall! Didn't winter start a long time ago? Snow tapers through the day. High: 24

WEDNESDAY: Winter Solstice arrives at 5:38pm. It's OFFICIALLY winter!! More, clouds and another chance of snow. High: 23

THURSDAY: Christmas EVE EVE looking like a partly snowy travel day. Still a fairly high uncertainty level on that snow potential, stay tuned. High: 25

FRIDAY: Christmas eve. Light snow chance. Slightly warmer than it has been. High: Mid 20s

SATURDAY: Christmas day. Turning partly cloudy and colder. High: Teens

Yes, I said storms! Our cold and snowy December continues with two chances of accumulating snow this week. The first potential snow maker will slide through early this week and the next one, still up in the air at this point, may have an impact on our holiday travel Thursday. Sandwiched in the middle is the, official, start to winter.

Winter Solstice will ring in this Wednesday at 5:38pm, but no doubt winter has already started. In fact, this December, 24.2" of snow has been observed, good enough for the 5th snowiest December on record. With two chances of accumulating snow this week, I think the snowiest December on record, which is 33.2" set in 1969, could perhaps be achievable again this year.

Cooling of the equatorial waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, La Nina, may be partly to blame for our weather as of late. Aiding in the Arctic outbreaks and the lake effect snow events over the Great Lakes region.

 Downwind of Lake Ontario, Syracuse, New York has picked up a massive 70.8" of snow, setting a new December record. They only need an additional 7.3" for the snowiest month ever on record! The La Nina forecast calls for it to continue through spring of 2011, so this winter may wind up being even snowier that it already has been.

Snowy Monday Night Football

Since the Dome collapse one week ago due to the major snowstorm, the Minnesota Vikings will be playing their first home game at an outdoor venue in the Twin Cities since the "the Old Met" days back in 1981. The TCF Bank Stadium will host the Vikes and Bears in what looks to be a snowy night under the lights. The latest forecast calls for accumulating snow starting Monday and wrapping up Tuesday. The potential exists for at least 3" to 6" of snow around parts of the state, some may get more... And don't forget about the 2nd snow chance this week, which comes in Thursday. The image below shows the best chance of accumulating snow Monday through Tuesday, which at this point, lines up right over central Minnesota. I expect to see Watches/Warnings/Advisories posted around parts of the state in the near future... stay tuned.

Have a good Sunday - Todd Nelson