SE Minnesota Counties West of Rochester Under Ice Storm Warning
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The National Weather Service has issued an Ice Storm Warning for southern Minnesota Counties west of Rochester.
The warning begins at 6 p.m. Monday in Mower, Dodge, Steele and Freeborn Counties in southeast Minnesota. The cities of Mankato and Fairmont are also included in the ice warning.
Monday morning’s forecast indicates communities in the Ice Storm Warning could see anywhere from 0.1 inches of ice to as much as 0.5 inches of ice. As of Monday morning forecasters are uncertain as to how far north potential ice accumulations are and whether or not it will be warm enough for rain to fall instead of freezing rain.
Officials say 0.25 inches of ice could cause travel hazards, power outages and damage trees. The Ice Storm Warning is scheduled to expire at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and be followed by anywhere from 4-9 inches of snow in communities included in the warning.
In Rochester the National Weather Service has changed its Winter Storm Watch to a Winter Weather Advisory. Rochester still could see ice accumulations ranging between 0.01 inches and 0.10 inches Monday night into Tuesday.
The precipitation in Rochester is predicted to shift from a wintry mix to snow by Tuesday night. Monday morning’s forecast says Rochester could see between a trace and three inches of snowfall by Tuesday night. The Winter Weather Advisory is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. on Monday and expire at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
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