Minnesota braces for major winter storm; significant number of flights canceled or delayed at MSP Airport
There have been no big changes to the forecast overnight. Everything remains on track for Minnesota's major winter storm, with major impacts from Saturday evening through Sunday.
WCCO's NEXT Weather Alert is in effect into Monday due to the effects of the storm, which will likely be the biggest of the season.
Its seriousness has prompted Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to sign an executive order authorizing the Minnesota National Guard to support emergency operations until conditions caused by the storm subside.
A significant number of flights are cancelled at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Saturday evening into Sunday, too, with airlines advising travelers to rebook their flights.
Twin Cities mayors to discuss storm preps
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her are expected to share information on storm preparations in a joint press conference on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Watch that in the player above and on CBS News Minnesota.
The state will be dry for most of the day Saturday, but snow picks up in coverage and intensity, mainly after 7 p.m., with the heaviest after midnight, with 1 to 3 inches per hour snowfall rates.
Twelve to 18 inches of snow is expected across the metro, with a few isolated spots in Wisconsin reaching over 18 inches.
Closer to Interstate 90, some sleet and ice will mix in overnight, cutting back totals a bit, but the NEXT Weather team is still expecting travel area-wide to be very difficult, if not impossible, through Sunday afternoon with wind gusts 30 to 50 mph.
Most of the blizzard warnings are for Sunday morning and afternoon.
Snow wraps up into Sunday evening, but gusty winds continue into Monday with some lingering travel issues possible for the morning commute.
Continue to follow WCCO for extensive weather coverage.