Brunt of massive storm misses lakes area
Brainerd didn't see the snow that hit southern Minnesota late Tuesday and early Wednesday, but there is enough to require area residents to grab their shovels.
And once the snow stops, residents will want to be bundled up by Wednesday night.
The season's first major winter snowstorm is expected to drop 3 to 6 inches of snow in Crow Wing and Aitkin counties by Wednesday afternoon.
The National Weather Service in Duluth issued a winter weather advisory in effect until midnight Wednesday for Aitkin, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Morrison and Todd counties.
Kevin Kraujalis, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Duluth, said the Brainerd area is more likely to see a top total of 3 inches rather than a total of 6 inches.
Rick Lothert towed his portable fish house off North Long Lake on the Highway 371 bay Tuesday morning north of Brainerd. Lothert had been fishing for sunfish and northern pike. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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"You're more on the lower end, definitely more on the lower end," Kraujalis said. "But it will still be blowing around though."
When the winter storm moves through and the snow tapers off, arctic air will push into the area, bringing with it low temperatures of 7 degrees below zero to 12 degrees below zero and west winds 10-15 mph, which will push wind chill readings 15-25 degrees below zero.
The forecast looks worse for Thursday, with high temps of 4-9 degrees and windchill readings 20-30 degrees below zero.
"We're about to get some of that cold Minnesota weather," said Carol Christenson, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Duluth.
Snow started falling late Tuesday afternoon as the storm system moved northeast across Kansas, Nesbraska and Iowa. The Brainerd area is expected to just be clipped by the winter storm. Hardest hit should be southern Minnesota and Wisconsin.
As of 6:30 p.m., the winter storm had dropped about six-tenths of an inch in St. Cloud, 2.2 inches in St. Paul, 2.5 inches in Mankato and 3.5 inches in North Mankato. St. Cloud was expected to get about 6 inches of snow; the Twin Cities, which was in a winter storm warning, about 9 inches; and Mankato, which was in a blizzard warning, about 10 inches.
North to northwest winds 15-30 mph could cause local areas of blowing and drifting snow, the weather service reported, and could reduce visibility to less than a half mile.
Slick and hazardous roads are possible Wednesday morning.
"I would say messy even at times - especially tonight with snow falling and blowing snow - dangerous if you're not prepared," Christenson said.
Dick Bordwell, transportation generalist senior at Minnesota Department of Transportation's District 3 office in Baxter, said their forecast models show only a trace to an inch of snow by Wednesday morning.
A MnDOT crew will be on until 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night, he said, and a crew would be called in at 2 a.m. Wednesday if needed, Bordwell said. Chemical will not be put down as the temperature is too cold and the wind too strong, he said.
"But the roads should stay good," Bordwell said. "There might be little scattered slippery spots ... and blowing and small drifting snow on roads but it looks like it's downgraded."
Law enforcement agencies in the area aren't planning on having more officers patrolling roadways and they hope motorists drive according to the conditions.
MnDOT recommended motorists adjust speed to road and weather conditions, keep a safe stopping distance between vehicles, accelerate and decelerate slowly on icy and snow-covered roads to retrain traction, don't use cruise control and allow for extra travel time.
"We pretty much know there's going to be some crashes," Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl said. "It seems like it's a learning experience for drivers each time we get a new snowfall. We certainly want people to buckel up and drive safe."
State Patrol Capt. Mark Jonassen said the forecast for the Brainerd area hadn't warranted any travel advisories as of Tuesday afternoon.
Like Dahl, Jonassen hopes motorists think ahead when driving on snow- or ice-covered roadways.
"It's time we start getting the feel of road and getting back to good winter driving habits," Jonassen said. "That's called being good Minnesotans. This happens every year and we should know it."
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.