Snow, ice and rain, oh my: Mix of winter weather expected this weekend
No matter what kind of precipitation you like best, you’ll likely see it this weekend.
A system bringing snow, ice and rain is expected to move across Minnesota and Wisconsin during the overnight hours Friday into Saturday.
A winter weather advisory is in effect for multiple counties in Wisconsin starting at 9 p.m. Friday, and is in effect through 9 a.m. Saturday. CLICK HERE for the latest weather alerts.
The National Weather Service says freezing rain is expected to fall, with total ice accumulations of one-tenth to two-tenths of an inch.
Roads, sidewalks and bridges are expected to be extremely slippery. Drivers are asked to slow down when traveling, and officials say power outages are also possible.
CLICK HERE for the latest traffic conditions.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS Chief Meteorologist Ken Barlow says a mix of snow and freezing rain will arrive in the Twin Cities area late Friday night and early Saturday, but that will change to all rain, with some thunder also possible.
Barlow adds a mix of snow and rain, or possibly all snow, will be to the north of the Twin Cities, while the metro will see mainly rain.
Precipitation is expected to last until sometime Sunday.
A band of snowfall could drop 3-5 inches of snow or more in areas such as Alexandria, Brainerd and Duluth, as well as Grand Marais.
St Cloud and Bemidji could see 1-3 inches, while the Twin Cities area and areas to the south are expected to see less than an inch of snow.
CLICK HERE for the latest forecast, and HERE for the interactive radar.
Xcel Energy said it has increased staffing levels and is staging employees in preparation for possible power outages.
The company urges customers to report any outages using one of the following methods:
- The Xcel Energy mobile app
- XcelEnergy.com/Out
- Texting “OUT” to 98936
- Calling 1-800-895-1999 and following the prompts
Xcel also reminds customers to stay away from downed power lines, keep natural gas meters clear of snow and ice, and build a home emergency kit to be prepared for a power outage.