...MESSY SPRING SYSTEM BRINGS FREEZING RAIN, SLEET, AND SNOWTO
PORTIONS OF MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...

.A powerful spring weather system will bring widespread precipitation
to the region beginning tonight and lingering through Thursday, with
areas of wet snow, freezing rain, sleet, and rain all expected
depending on timing and location. Western and central Minnesota will
experience mainly slushy wet snow with accumulations of 2 to 4
inches, meanwhile rain is favored in southern and southeastern
Minnesota. In between the snow and rain, a messy wintry mix of sleet
and freezing rain will result in ice accumulations and slippery
travel. There is still a moderate degree of uncertainty regarding ice
accumulation amounts, due to temperatures being very close to
freezing and a fluctuation of only a degree or two likely having a
large impact on final amounts.

The greatest impacts from icing and freezing rain will occur over
western Wisconsin and portions of east-central to southwestern
Minnesota, with accumulations up to a quarter inch in Minnesota and a
few tenths of an inch in Wisconsin. Power outages are possible due to
icing of power lines in addition to gusty winds, and slippery to
impossible travel will occur where ice accumulates. Slow travel from
wet slushy snow is expected in western and central Minnesota.

* WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations
up to one inch, sleet accumulations around three quarters of an
inch, and ice accumulations around one quarter of an inch. Winds
gusting as high as 30 mph.

* WHERE...McLeod, Renville, Sibley, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
Scott, Washington, Brown, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Rice, Goodhue, and
Redwood Counties.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to noon CDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely
become slick and hazardous. Significant ice accumulation on power
lines and tree limbs may cause widespread and long-lasting power
outages. Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions
will impact the Thursday morning commute.

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your
vehicle in case of an emergency. Call 5 1 1 or visit 511mn.org for
road conditions.

Persons should consider delaying all travel. If travel is absolutely
necessary, drive with extreme caution. Consider taking a winter storm
kit along with you, including such items as tire chains, booster
cables, flashlight, shovel, blankets and extra clothing. Also take
water, a first aid kit, and anything else that would help you survive
in case you become stranded.

The Winter Weather Advisory has been replaced. Please see the latest information from NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN on this developing situation.

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your
vehicle in case of an emergency. In Minnesota, call 5 1 1 or visit
511mn.org for road conditions. In Wisconsin, call 5 1 1 or visit
511wi.gov for road conditions.