Winter Storm could drop rain, some snow on southwestern metro

Like much of Minnesota, the southwest metro is likely to see at least a little bit of winter weather this week, but more rain than snow, according to National Weather Service in Chanhaass. For some on the way home after the long holiday home, travel could be a headache in some parts of the state.

Between Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning, parts of the region could receive 2 to 4 inches of snow, while others will receive less than 2 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

The northern part of Minnesota could see up to 12 inches of snow or more during the week.

Heavy snow will cause significant travel impacts from western and northern Minnesota through northern Wisconsin from Wednesday afternoon to Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

The southwestern metro has warmer temperatures in the rest of the working week and therefore much less snow. Snow collection will occur in two events for the area: Wednesday night and Thursday night to Friday.

From 1 p.m. 14 Wednesday, some roads in the western part of the state were already allegedly smooth, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow was expected to start moving on to southwestern Minnesota late Wednesday morning, with the intensity increasing in the evening. The snow is expected to rise in intensity by Wednesday night and decreases Thursday morning according to the National Weather Service. Occasionally light -freezing drip is possible, but is not expected to have a major influence compared to the snow.

A winter weather counseling has been issued from Redwood Falls to Glencoe to Bloomington in Minnesota and continues to Hudson and Menomonie to Chippewa Falls in Wisconsin.

At the forefront of this week’s incoming weather, Xcel Energy said its herds were prepared and ready to respond to any power breaks.

“We work hard to make sure our crews are ready to respond if serious weather hits,” said Troy Browen, senior director of the Control Center operations, in a news message. “We have increased staff and monitor the system, so we can safely and quickly respond to changing weather conditions.”