Sat, Jan 8th, 2022 - 9:05am
February 21, 2022 - 12:31pm | By Justin Storm
Conditions are deteriorating across the southern valley. As a major winter storm hits the Northern Great Plains, a blizzard warning has been issued to the rainbow of advisories and warnings across our area. Travel is not advised!
The blizzard warning for the southern valley is in effect until 9:00 PM this evening. Expect whiteout conditions with blowing and falling snow, heavy at times up to an inch per hour! Wind will be sustained between 20-30 mph and gusting up to 45 mph. Additionally, a winter storm warning remains effective until 12:00 PM Tuesday afternoon. Snow showers will continue on and off for the rest of today and overnight heavy at times, adding to limited visibility. A second burst of snow will track through the area Tuesday morning and afternoon, primarily to our south and southeast into central Minnesota. Snow showers will wind down through Tuesday afternoon, but it will remain breezy with possible blowing snow and reduced visibility, especially while snowing.
Heavy snow accumulations of 12-18+ inches are possible along the North Dakota, South Dakota border and stretching towards Duluth, Minnesota. Within the Fargo area and I-94 corridor, I expect 7-11+ inches of snow with less to the north, only about 1-3" in Grand forks. Today, wind chills 20-40 below could cause frostbite in as little as 10 minutes to exposed skin. Therefore, a wind chill warning and advisory are in effect until noon Wednesday, down to -40 in the advisory and -50 or slightly lower in the warning.
Attached below are a couple of models on expected snow totals from this morning into Tuesday. These are just a couple of possible outcomes, and a couple of models are hinting at even slighter higher amounts possible with a slight northward trend in the second wave of snow Tuesday morning. Already 6-12 inches have been reported along the South Dakota, North Dakota border, and 4-5 Inches in Fargo.
Meteorologist,
Justin Storm
