2 to 5 inches on Thursday

One to two inches of snow is forecast to fall on the I-90 corridor in southern Minnesota on Tuesday in the metro area. Consider it a preview of a bigger dump coming Thursday.

Of course, big is relative and this year the bar is set low.

A meager 8 inches of snow fell on November 20, making it the largest single snowfall of the season in the metropolitan area, although not for long. A system moving into the state Thursday will bring 3 to 5 inches of snow along and north of Interstate 94, with 1 to 3 inches likely in southern and southeastern Minnesota, the National Weather Service said.

“So far, the snow chance is the best this season,” the weather service said, noting the metro is expected to get 2 to 5 inches, with higher amounts on the north side.

Parts of west-central Minnesota and into the Fargo-Moorhead area have a 50 percent chance of reaching 4 inches or more, the weather service in Grand Forks, North Dakota, said.

In the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota, snow is expected to impact both morning and evening commutes on Thursday, with up to 1 inch of snow per hour falling Thursday morning into the afternoon , the weather service said.

“Be prepared for snow-covered roads Thursday,” the weather service said. “Allow more time and space when you’re on the go.”

First, a rapid blast of snow will move across southern Minnesota on Tuesday, bringing up to 3 inches of snow in far southwestern Minnesota and up to 2 inches of snow in places like Fairmont, Albert Lea and Austin. The heaviest snow will fall between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., the weather service said.