Summary (tl;dr)

A significant winter storm is hitting Minnesota and parts of Canada, bringing heavy snow, strong winds, and sharply colder temperatures just before the Thanksgiving holiday, prompting widespread winter storm warnings and advisories.

Essential Background

Just days prior to the storm's arrival, Minnesota experienced unseasonably mild conditions, including record-setting warmth on Sunday, November 23rd, when the Twin Cities reached 56 degrees. This abrupt shift marks the end of a mild period as a powerful low-pressure system moves across the region.

The Full Story

"Winter storm warning" is trending as a major winter storm impacts central and northern Minnesota, with warnings in effect from Tuesday morning through late Tuesday night. The storm is forecast to bring substantial snowfall, with areas like Duluth and Grand Marais along the North Shore potentially seeing 7 to 15 inches. A band of heavy snow is also anticipated from Moorhead to Bemidji, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, and through the Arrowhead, with snowfall rates reaching 1 to 2 inches per hour during the peak. The Twin Cities metropolitan area is under a winter weather advisory, expecting 1 to 3 inches of snow as rain transitions to snow by Tuesday evening. Strong winds gusting up to 35 to 40 mph are expected to cause near-blizzard conditions and reduced visibility, especially in northern and central Minnesota. This weather system is also affecting parts of Canada, with Ontario under a winter storm watch for heavy snow and lake-effect squalls.

Why It Matters

The timing of this significant winter storm, immediately preceding the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel period, is causing widespread concern for disruptions. Hazardous driving conditions, including slick roads, blowing snow, and significantly reduced visibility, are expected to create difficult and dangerous travel, particularly across Minnesota and into affected areas of Canada. The rapid onset of severe winter weather following a period of unseasonable warmth highlights the need for vigilance and preparedness for sudden meteorological changes.

Geographic Location

• Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States (heavy snowfall expected)
• Grand Marais, Cook County, Minnesota, United States (heavy snowfall expected)
• Twin Cities metropolitan area, Minnesota, United States (winter weather advisory and accumulating snow)
• Central and Northern Minnesota, United States (widespread winter storm warnings and heavy snow)
• Northern Wisconsin, United States (winter storm watch)
• Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada (winter storm watch)
• Timmins, Ontario, Canada (winter storm watch)
• Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada (winter storm watch)
• Marathon, Ontario, Canada (winter storm watch)
• Wawa, Ontario, Canada (winter storm watch)
• Southern Ontario, Canada (lake-effect snow squalls)
• Quebec, Canada (may see winter storms)
• Cascades of Southern King County, Washington, United States (winter weather advisory, including Snoqualmie Pass)
• Cypress Hills, Alberta, Canada (snowfall expected)
• Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan, Canada (snowfall expected)