Snow in area 'enough to whiten things up'

Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing and Mille Lacs counties are in a winter weather advisory until 6 p.m. Monday with several inches of snow expected.

The National Weather Service in Duluth reported snow accumulations from 4 to 8 inches possible, with higher amounts expected in the Brainerd and Cass Lake areas.

For Brainerd, 2 to 4 inches was expected Sunday night, followed by the possibility of another 2 to 4 inches Monday. Snow also is likely Tuesday, the weather service reported, but no total was projected.

"It's not a heavy snow but just enough to whiten things up," said Peter Parke, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Duluth. "The way it's going (Sunday afternoon), it shouldn't get much worse."

By Sunday afternoon, 1.3 inches of snow had fallen in Long Prairie, 1 inch in Nisswa and Little Falls, 0.5 inches in Brainerd and 0.3 inches in Pillager, according to reports received by the weather service.

Heavier snow was expected to the south and west of the Brainerd area.

In Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties and the Twin Cities metro area, a winter storm warning is in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday with 10 to 14 inches of snow possible during the two-day storm.

The weather service reported travel could be dangerous during the storm and advised motorists to travel only in an emergency and with a survival kit, including a flashlight, food and water.

Driving conditions in Morrison and Todd counties were listed as difficult Sunday afternoon, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, with snow on roadways, slippery roadways and reduced visibility.

In Aitkin, Cass and Crow Wing counties, road conditions were listed Sunday afternoon as fair by MnDOT, with snow and icy patches.

The storm will be followed by a clipper Tuesday night, Parke said, with temps just below the seasonal norm. The low Tuesday is forecast to be 1 degree below zero to 6 degrees below zero. The high temps on Wednesday and Thursday are forecast to be 16 to 21 degrees, with low temps of 2 degrees below zero to 7 degrees below zero.

"It will be staying in teens so it doesn't look like it's too much of big deal at all," Parke said.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.