Here comes Round 2.
After digging out Friday morning from a storm that brought several inches of heavy, wet snow to the Twin Cities metro area and other parts of the state, Minnesotans refueled the snowblowers and shook off the shovels in preparation for a second, even stronger storm. Luckily, it'll arrive on Saturday, when driving is optional for many residents.
Friday afternoon and evening provided a brief respite after a harrowing morning commute in which snow-covered roads sent scores of motorists sliding into ditches.
Parking suddenly got more difficult, too. Minneapolis, St. Paul, Hastings, Plymouth, St. Anthony, West St. Paul, Crystal, Bloomington, St. Louis Park and Robbinsdale all declared snow emergencies after 3 to 6 inches of snow fell Thursday night into Friday morning.
Just as residents dug out from that one, the National Weather Service sharpened its forecast for another approaching storm, issuing a winter storm warning that will start at 3 p.m. Saturday for the Twin Cities area and much of southern Minnesota, with 6 to 9 inches of fresh snow expected.
Some of the snow could be heavy, falling at rates of 1 or 2 inches per hour Saturday evening, and northwest winds gusting to 30 to 35 miles an hour Saturday night will lead to areas of blowing snow, the Weather Service said.
The prospect of another heavy snow could lead Minneapolis to issue a second snow emergency just as the one issued Friday expires. It's too early to say, said Minneapolis city spokesman Casper Hill.
"We make our decision based on what snow actually falls," he said. "But after a big snowfall, always keep watching."