Rain, sleet and then heavy snow

The National Weather Service has updated its outlook for the approaching major winter storm that is expected to impact a large area of Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.  A blizzard warning will be in effect from 9 a.m. today through noon tomorrow for most of southeast Minnesota. The latest forecast calls for rain, freezing rain and sleet through most of the morning. The mixed precipitation will become all snow by late morning or early afternoon and it will intensify through the day. There may even be periods of thunder snow.

The Weather Service says the most dangerous part of the storm will affect the region this afternoon when strong winds will develop, causing whiteout conditions. The winds will be in the 25 - 35 mile per hour range with gusts up to 50 miles per hour. Although the snow will gradually taper off late tonight or tomorrow morning, blowing and drifting conditions will continue. By the time the storm winds down, snowfall totals in southeast Minnesota are expected to be in the 6 - 13 inch range.