*Dangerous Cold Through The Upcoming Weekend

*Plowable Snow Potential Wednesday & Thursday

*Blizzard Conditions Thursday Into Friday

ACCUMULATING SNOW WEDNESDAY FOLLOWED BY BLIZZARD AND DANGEROUSLY COLD CONDITIONS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

TRAVEL THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT COULD BE IMPOSSIBLE AND LIFE-THREATENING

* WHAT...For the Winter Storm Warning, heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches. For the Winter Storm Watch, blizzard conditions possible. Total snow accumulations of up to one inch possible. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph.

* WHERE...Portions of east central Minnesota and northwest and west central Wisconsin.

* WHEN...For the Winter Storm Warning, from 9 AM Wednesday to 3 AM CST Thursday. For the Winter Storm Watch, from Thursday afternoon through late Friday night.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult or impossible. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches. The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 35 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This could be a life-threatening situation if you get stranded traveling late this week. Consider adjusting any travel plans now.

Snow will overspread the region Wednesday and bring 5 to 8 inches of fluffy accumulation through Wednesday night. Winds will be relatively light Wednesday and Wednesday evening. There should be a break in severe winter conditions late Wednesday night and early Thursday. Then, strong northwest winds gusting as high as 50 mph and dangerously cold air will surge in Thursday afternoon through Friday night. Whiteout conditions are expected during that time with travel becoming very difficult or impossible. This event could be life-threatening if you are stranded with wind chills in the 30 below to 45 below zero range. Travel plans for late this week should be adjusted now. In addition, heavy snow remaining on trees from the last storm and strong winds arriving could result in tree damage and power outages as temperatures drop below zero.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect Wednesday and Wednesday evening. Then, a Blizzard Warning goes into effect Thursday across southern and western Minnesota, with the Winter Storm Watch continuing north and east where wind and blowing snow will begin a bit later.

Light fluffy snow is likely Wednesday into Thursday with several inches of snow likely. As the winds increase on Thursday, the snow will blow and drift which could lead to ground blizzard conditions Thursday through Friday night.

Key Messages regarding the winter storm moving in from Wednesday through Saturday.

Gusty northwest winds on Thursday and Friday will result in blowing and drifting snow which will reduce visibilities with whiteout conditions likely at times.

Dangerously cold temps will settle into the region through the 2nd half of the week with wind chill values dipping into the -30s and -40s. This is cold enough to cause frostbite within minutes, so please take this cold weather seriously.

Low pressure developing along the Arctic cold front is expected to produce heavy snow and blizzard conditions for much of the north-central U.S. starting Wednesday night, potentially continuing into the Holiday Weekend. Here are key messages for the blizzard.

December started on a very warm note, but thanks to much colder than average temps more recently, the average temperature in the Twin Cities for the month of December is running below average for a change. Precipitation is running nearly 0.60" above average and snowfall is nearly 4.0" above average as well.

Thanks to our latest storm system, many places are reporting deep snowpack across the region. The heaviest being found across the Dakotas through the northern half of Minnesota into Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan. Meanwhile, 5" of snow covered the ground in the at the MSP Airport over the weekend. Duluth is reporting a snow depth of 26".

Believe it or not, the Twin Cities has seen more than 24" of snow so far this season, which is nearly 10" above average since July 1st. Interestingly, this has been the 14th snowiest start to any season on record in the Twin Cities. (July 1st - December 19th). Incredibly, Duluth has seen more than 58" of snow this season, which is nearly 30" above average and the 3rd snowiest start to any season on record.

The temperature trend shows a significant surge of colder air settling in across the eastern two-thirds of the nation through much of the week and weekend ahead. This could be one of the coldest and potentially snowiest weeks leading up to Christmas in quite some time for folks east of the Rockies. Folks that have travel plans will want to pay attention to weather forecasts and prepare for extreme cold and snow.

The extended temperature outlook for Minneapolis shows much colder temps in place through through the 2nd half of the month. The coldest days arrive midweek and linger through the upcoming Holiday Weekend. The last few days of 2022 could see a slight warming trend as we get closer to the freezing mark. After several days of very cold weather this week, that will feel like a heat wave.

The Twin Cities on Wednesday, December 21sth will be colder than average once again with temps only warming into the single digits. It'll be a snowy day with snow starting in the morning and lasting through the entire day.

Temps across the region on Wednesday will be very cold once again with readings nearly -20F to -30F below average across the state. Even colder temps will be found across Western Minnesota and into the Dakotas, where temps will be nearly -30F to -40F below average.

Temps on Wednesday will start off on a very chilly note with readings in the single digits below zero. Temps will warm into the single above zero by the afternoon with areas of snow. ESE winds will be around 10mph to 15mph through the day.

Feels like temps through the day Wednesday will be very cold with readings starting in the teens below zero with readings in the single digits below zero during the afternoon.

Here are the coldest wind chills over the next few days. The coldest days could see readings dipping into the -30s and -40s. It'll be dangerously cold over the next several days. Make sure you are prepared!

The week ahead will be well below average with temps anywhere from -20F to -30F below average. There is a chance that we don't climb above 0F late in the week, which will be some of the coldest air since February of 2021.

It'll definitely be MUCH colder over the next several days. Temps mid/late week may only warm into the single digits. It'll be snowy Wednesday into Thursday with strong winds and potential blizzard-like conditions Thursday into Friday. Dangerously cold wind chills will be in place through the weekend.

The ECMWF extended temperature outlook for Minneapolis over the next several days shows colder temperatures over the next several days. There is a chance that we could see some warning late month with temps back to near the freezing mark once again.

According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, the 8 to 14 day temperature outlook shows cooler than average temps returning across much of the nation.

According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, the 8 to 14 Day precipitation outlook shows more active weather in place across much of the nation, especially in the Western US

With apologies to my 12th grade Intro To Calculus instructor, the next 72+ hours will be a reminder that 1+1 can equal 3. Moderate snow today, plowable. Then high winds kick in on the backside of a sprawling mega-storm. Which will produce ground blizzards and a windchill in the -30 to -40F range by Friday.

Today will be all about accumulating snow, but winds will still be fairly light. Snow tapers tomorrow, and then a tightening pressure gradient turns on howling winds Thursday night into Saturday morning, reaching speeds of 35-55 mph. The greatest risk of blizzard conditions will be open areas south/west of MSP, but even the metro area may be drifted shut on Friday. With temperatures near 0F and winds gusting to 40, it will be challenging keeping metro freeways (and runways) clear from drifts.

If you do get stuck out there, call 911 and wait for help to reach you. Don't wander off for help with a windchill of -40F.

After a Christmas clipper we mellow into the 20s & 30s next week. A warm front!

WEDNESDAY: Plowable snow, very icy. Winds: SE 8-13. High: 5.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: A few inches of snow. Cold and blustery. Feels like -15F. Winds: NW 15-25. Low: -1.

THURSDAY: Snow tapers a bit, 5-8" possible. Winds: NW 15-30. Wake-up: -5. High: -1.

FRIDAY: Ground blizzards. Chill: -30 to -40F. Winds: NW 20-50. Wake-up: -11. High: 0.

SATURDAY: Cold sunshine, less drifting. Winds: NW 15-30. Wake-up: -9. High: 3.

SUNDAY: Sunny start, late PM light snow. Winds: S 5-10. Wake-up: -5. High: 8.

MONDAY: Some sun, still brisk. Winds: NW 10-20. Wake-up: 0. High: 7.

TUESDAY: Chance of light snow. Winds: SE 5-10. Wake-up: -5. High: 6.

December 21st

1993: Strong northwest winds gust to 35 miles an hour, causing near whiteout conditions over a wide area of southwest Minnesota from the late afternoon on the 21st into the early morning of the 22nd. Several car accidents occurred. A 30 year old man was killed when he lost control of his truck and slid into a ditch in the near blizzard like conditions. Counties affected include: Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Faribault, Lac Qui Parle, Redwood, Renville, Watonwan, and Yellow Medicine.

1939: This is the latest date on record for Lake Minnewaska to freeze over at Glenwood.

December 21st

Average High: 27F (Record: 56F set in 1877)

Average Low: 13F (Record: -24F set in 1916)

Record Rainfall: 0.71" set in 2006

Record Snowfall: 5.3" set in 1920

December 21st

Sunrise: 7:47am

Sunset: 4:34pm

Hours of Daylight: ~8 hours & 46 minutes

Daylight LOST since yesterday: ~3 seconds

Daylight LOST since Summer Solstice (June 21st): ~ 6 hour & 50 minutes

1.1 Days Before New Moon

The weather outlook on Wednesday shows the beginning stages of the Siberian Express moving into the High Plains. High temps in Billing, MT will only warm to around -11F, which will be nearly -50F below average with record cold high temps.

The weather outlook for Wednesday shows a developing storm system in the Central US with widespread snow from the Plains to the Midwest. This will be a high impact storm with significant travel impacts through the 2nd half of the week and weekend ahead.

The main concern through the 2nd half of the week will be the major winter storm unfolding across the Midwest and into the Great Lakes. Widespread heavy snow and strong winds will lead to widespread blizzard conditions with heavy rain along the East Coast and into the Northeast.

According to NOAA's Weather Prediction Center, the extended precipitation outlook shows heavy precipitation across the much of the Eastern half of the nation. The heaviest will be in the Great Lakes, where heavy snow and blizzard conditions will unfold later this week and weekend ahead. The Northeast will see heavier rain and a little snow on the backside of the storm. There will be another push of heavier precipitation in the Pacific Northwest.

According to the ECMWF (European model), heavy snow will be possible over the next several days across the northern tier of the nation. Next week could certainly bring a wallop of snow somewhere east of the Rockies, which could mean messy traveling for some. Stay tuned...

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See more from Scientific American HERE:

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See more from ArsTechnica HERE:

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