FIRST ALERT FORECAST: The first widespread snowfall of the season is expected on Thursday

The Minnesota Weather Department has issued one FORECAST FIRST ALARM ahead of this snowfall, which will likely impact the Thursday morning commute. While there is still time for forecast changes, now is the time to plan ahead for impactful winter weather. This system will be followed by another round of Arctic cold. The highs for the weekend only reach the teens, the morning lows are in the single digits.

Wednesday will be a quiet day with a mix of sun and clouds and high temperatures in the lower 20s south of I-94 and in the teens north. Highs could remain in the single digits in far northwestern Minnesota.

The focus of the forecast is on Thursday! A heavy Alberta Clipper will likely bring the first widespread snowfall of the season, with many parts of the state expected to receive between 2 and 5 inches of snow. The heaviest snow appears to be falling on an axis along the I-94 corridor.

There will be occasional snowfalls around midnight starting late Wednesday night and continuing through most of Thursday. The Minnesota Weather Department says snow accumulations in the far south of the metro area could drop to 3 inches by 6 a.m., with snow accumulations somewhere between 1 and 2 inches in most areas within the I-494/I-694 loop. However, there may be snow and freezing drizzle south of the city centers in the morning hours.

It will then continue to snow throughout the afternoon, but there could be freezing drizzle in the southern metropolis. The snow should give way to the thunderstorm in the evening hours.

Up to 8 inches of snow could fall along a line from Maple Grove to White Bear Lake to Stillwater and New Richmond and north into northern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.

Another treacherous system could attempt to bring another band of light snow to parts of the state Saturday and Monday. At this point it is difficult to say exactly where this will happen or whether these systems will become widespread, but they are worth keeping an eye on. There will be milder temperatures on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but if we get some good snow on the ground on Thursday we might be able to get a white Christmas here.

An early look at Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Both days look calm and mild, with temperatures around 30°C.