Springing back to winter
There's a 50 percent chance of more snow Saturday night, Sunday
Mother Nature can't seem to make up her mind.
Just days after late spring-like temperatures of near 60 degrees in Brainerd melted much of the 20 or so inches of snow on the ground, winter returned Thursday afternoon with high temps of 25 degrees and a dose of big, fluffy snowflakes.
Most of what fell early Thursday afternoon melted as soon as it hit the ground. But by late afternoon, a thin, white shell of snow began accumulating. The National Weather Service in Duluth forecasted a potential of 2 inches by Friday morning.
To the north of Brainerd in Itasca and northern Cass counties, heavy snowfall limited visibility for motorists and created slick driving conditions. The Cass County Sheriff's Department reported several vehicles in ditches in Walker.
"It was kind of crazy for a while but then it kind of tapered off," said a sheriff's dispatcher Thursday afternoon.
Tanner Gustafson was caught in the afternoon snowfall Thursday while riding his bike on South Sixth Street in Brainerd. The National Weather Service in Duluth forecasted a potential of 2 inches of snow by Friday morning. Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Snowfall was heavier, with 3-5 inches possible, north and west of Walker and a snow advisory was issued Thursday for Wadena, Hubbard, Polk, Beltrami, Clearwater and Red Lake counties.
The sun should return Friday, with high temperatures between 30-35 degrees, the NWS reported. The forecast for Saturday calls for partly sunny skies and high temps of 33-38 degrees. There is a 50 percent chance of snow forecast for Saturday night and into Sunday. Forty-degree temps are expected to return next week.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.