Snow Followed by Gusty Winds and Cold Air…What’s New?

Nasty travel conditions are being forecast for sections of southern and western Minnesota on Tuesday.

The National Weather Service has posted blizzard warnings for areas west of Rochester and into South Dakota because of an approaching clipper storm. The system is expected to bring 1-4 inches of new snow to areas of southern Minnesota, while 3-5 inches are possible in west-central Minnesota.

Forecasters say the snow will be followed up by howling northwest winds and much colder air. The wind gusts in the areas covered by the blizzard warning, which includes Freeborn and Steele Counties, could hit 45 mph.

Olmsted and its neighboring counties are included in a winter weather advisory that will be in effect from 3 AM through 9 PM Tuesday. The latest forecasts predict 2-3 inches of snow in the Rochester area Tuesday morning followed by 30-40 mile-per-hour winds in the afternoon.