Temperatures to drop throughout the day Friday following fresh snowfall

A fresh layer of snow will coat the Twin Cities metro area Friday, just ahead of an air mass that will bring Arctic cold to the region.

According to meteorologist Jonathan Yuhas, the area will receive one to two inches of snow accumulation, with some freezing rain possibly included in the mix during the early morning rush hour drive.

While temperatures will be in the low 30s to start the day, they are expected to fall into the teens by sunset.

Snow is expected to stop falling in the mid-morning hours, and the cold air will cause that to freeze over. Winds will reach 15-25 mph, and cause snow to blow around in open areas.

Steady snow over the metro right now, with main arterial AND side streets fully covered. This is RIGHT as the morning rush hour prepares to get underway. We're tracking the snow, your commute, and the arctic cold to arrive this weekend all morning long on @KSTP #mnwx pic.twitter.com/yW1xsCVYBc

— Chris Reece (@ChrisReeceWX) January 27, 2023

Looking into the weekend, temperatures will be in the single digits above zero, with overnight lows reaching nearly 15 degrees below zero. Wind chills are expected to be near 20 or 25 below zero through Wednesday of next week. If you or your family is enjoying the outdoors this weekend, make sure to share any photos or videos with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS by CLICKING HERE.

Made it up to 31° at the house.

Now the winds are howling, and it has dropped to 29° in a matter of minutes. Not looking forward to all the single digit and sub-zero temps coming.

I guess I’ll be thankful we made it through most of January without it being this cold.

— Matt Serwe (@SerweWX) January 27, 2023

Friday, CenterPoint Energy provided a handful of tips to help consumers save energy during the upcoming cold snap:

• Keep curtains and blinds open during the day so the sun can help warm the home. Close them at night so heat isn’t lost.
• Set ceiling fans to turn clockwise to circulate warm air.
• Use weather-stripping or caulk to seal leaks around doors, windows and other openings. Close fireplace dampers when they aren’t being used.
• Turn down the thermostat by 4-6 degrees at night, or when you’re at work for at least eight hours.
• Make sure thermostat batteries are fresh.
• Make sure outside vents aren’t blocked by snow or ice, and make sure your furnace’s filter is changed or cleaned regularly.
• Have a qualified technician inspect your heating system.

There were also some safety tips provided by CenterPoint Energy:

• Test carbon monoxide and smoke alarms
• Familiarize yourself with the signs of CO poisoning
• Report any suspected natural gas leaks
• Use space heaters with caution, and make sure there is an automatic shut-off. Keep kids, pets and other items at least 3 feet away.
• Don’t use stoves and ovens for space heating.

CLICK HERE for the latest forecast from 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. An interactive radar can be found by CLICKING HERE.

Some area schools are running on a two hour delay Friday morning – CLICK HERE for a full list of districts.

An interactive traffic map can be found below. Make sure to follow Traffic Reporter Hanna Conway on Twitter by CLICKING HERE.

Troopers in central Minnesota are responding to several crashes. Roads are slick in many areas around the state. Your best defense is to slow down, put distractions away, increase your following distance and wear your seat belt. pic.twitter.com/5nYID0uUUZ

— MN State Patrol (@MnDPS_MSP) January 27, 2023