First taste of wintry weather headed for northern Plains

Winter weather continues to move into the area leaving several Winter Weather Advisories in effect around the area.

Snow will begin to wind down from southwest to northeast across the region during Friday night.

The large storm system is tracking northward from the United States.

The storm is anticipated to cause blizzard conditions in Western Minnesota.

With outside temperatures in the mid 50s and tempers still red hot from last week’s election, it’s hard to think about winter, but it is upon us and promises to be worse than past year.

White-out conditions are present and roads are completely covered with blowing snow.

A Winter Storm Watch is issued about 24 to 48 hours in advance of a storm that could produce 6 inches of snow or more and a half-inch of ice or more.

Download the Storm Shield Weather Radio App for your iPhone or Android device and get severe weather alerts wherever you are.

-Winter storm, freezing rain, and blizzard WARNINGS mean travel is unsafe because of the winter conditions.

Latest indications suggest that rain will change to snow late overnight or Friday morning.

Thunder Bay is set it appears to start winter.

At about 10:30 a.m., Environment Canada’s weather radar showed an intense band of precipitation stretching from Fort Frances to east of Upsala moving northward. Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado, recorded a wind gust of 60 miles per hour.

“My best advice to motorists is to slow it down and allow more time for travel”, Grabow said, “and buckle up”.

“During inclement weather conditions you should reduce your speed accordingly and drive defensively”, the statement added.

In addition to getting your vehicles winterized and putting together an emergency vehicle supply kit, now is also good time to get your home ready for the cold months ahead.

Along with heavy snow, the storm also ushered in howling winds that made driving unsafe and erased what had been nearly summer-like temperatures. Down south near La Pine and Sunriver we are already seeing some snow falling. But it’s all downhill from there as winds drastically pick up after sunrise; whip around out of the northwest and temperatures plummet into the low to mid 30s by lunchtime.