Slush likely to slow morning commute in Twin Cities

Expect slush, morning commuters.

Slush, snow — even heavy snow at times — and some downright cold weather compared to what Twin Cities residents have been accustomed to for the past few weeks.

The forecast hasn't changed much in the past 24 hours: The snow has started falling in some areas of the metro Friday morning and will continue until midmorning in the north, or until midafternoon as the band of snow moves south.

In Minnetonka, a light sleet was falling between midnight and 4 a.m., but it melted upon impact with the warm ground and grass and pavement were just wet, not slick.

In downtown Minneapolis and points eastward, the total accumulation will be only about an inch. In the north and west metro, it could be 2 to 4 inches.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation already has been out on the major freeways, pre-treating the roads. It reported at 5:30 a.m. that some roads in central and western Minnesota were partially snow -overed with icy bridges.

But there will still be slippery spots, especially on bridges and during the morning rush hour.

In southern Minnesota, limited visibility will become an issue in many areas, with winds from the north and northwest of 20 to 25 miles per hour, with gusts up to 35 mph. Be careful out there.

You can see current road conditions from the view of MnDOT snow plow drivers whose vehicles are equipped with dash cams.

As for whether the snow will stick around, well, maybe, maybe not, according to Todd Krause, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen.

The ground is still pretty warm, but some snow may stick to grassy areas. Car tops and picnic tables may hold on to snow for longer, he said — it all depends on the temperature of whatever the snow is falling on.

The heaviest snow — up to 5 inches or more — will fall in a north-south strip from Brainerd southward through Hutchinson and into south-central Minnesota, Krause said.

After a sloppy, cold, windy Friday, Saturday will bring a return of sunshine to the Twin Cities, but the chill will remain with a high near 38, the Weather Service said. Sunday's high will be in the mid-40s with a chance of rain after 1 p.m.

Monday, too, there's a slight chance of snow in the morning, changing to rain later as the temperature creeps up into the 40s. Rain and snow also may dominate the day Wednesday after a dry, cloudy Tuesday.

So put the snow brush in your car, put gloves in your pocket and take it slowly on the roads, officials advise.

"Don't be a maniac out there," Krause said. "Just drive cautiously, drive defensively."