Alberta, Minnesota

... Winter Storm Warning remains in effect from midnight tonight
to 6 am CST Saturday...

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect from midnight tonight to
6 am CST Saturday.

* Timing... snow will begin this evening across central Minnesota
with accumulating snow expected after midnight.

* Accumulations... significant amounts of snow will occur with
periods of heavy snow likely as the storm intensifies Thursday
afternoon into Friday. Snow amounts by Thursday morning of two
to five inches are expected. Total snowfall accumulations by
Saturday morning will likely exceed one foot in many areas...
with scattered totals in excess of 20 inches probable.

* Surface visibility will be reduced as the event continues due
to increasing wind speeds and blowing snow... mainly in open
rural areas.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow means severe winter weather
conditions are expected or occurring. Significant amounts of
snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous. Only travel in
an emergency. If you must travel... keep an extra flashlight...
food... and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

... First snow totals for the storm...

The totals below are separated into snow... and ice and sleet
categories... then by amount... and are not necessarily the
final amount for each location.


Snow reports listed by amount

inches location St County time
------ ----------------------- -- -------------- -------
3.50 WSW St James MN Watonwan 0826 PM
                 snow letting up a bit.
3.00 Mankato MN Blue Earth 0826 PM
2.00 Northfield MN Rice 0742 PM
                 snowing moderately with about 1 inch an hour.
2.00 Mankato MN Blue Earth 0729 PM
2.00 Ellendale MN Steele 0650 PM
1.50 2 W Prior Lake MN Scott 0721 PM
                 amount was in the past 90 minutes.
1.50 WSW St James MN Watonwan 0635 PM
                 fell in about hour.
1.50 Kiester MN Faribault 0453 PM