HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
Issue Date: 504 AM CST WED DEC 23 2009
Expiration: 500 AM CST THU DEC 24 2009

Expires:200912241100;;
FLUS43 KMPX 231059
HWOMPX
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
459 AM CST WED DEC 23 2009
MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
241100-
DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-
BENTON-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-CHISAGO-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-
KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-
YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-
REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-
WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-POLK-BARRON-RUSK-
ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-EAU CLAIRE-
459 AM CST WED DEC 23 2009
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA...AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE ARE POSSIBLE THIS MORNING MAINLY ALONG
AND SOUTH OF THE MINNESOTA RIVER VALLEY.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
A POWERFUL WINTER STORM WILL AFFECT THE AREA FROM TONIGHT THROUGH
CHRISTMAS DAY. WINTER STORM WARNINGS HAVE BEEN POSTED FOR THIS
AREA. THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE HEAVY SNOWFALL OVER
A VERY LARGE AREA...INCLUDING SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA INTO
WESTERN WISCONSIN. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS IN SOME AREAS COULD EASILY
EXCEED OVER A FOOT OF SNOW BY SATURDAY MORNING. THERE IS ALSO A
THREAT OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET FROM TONIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY... MAINLY FROM SOUTHERN MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN. MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND STATEMENT ISSUED BY
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE TRAVEL
PLANS.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTERS AND SNOWFALL OBSERVERS ARE URGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL
AMOUNTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
$$

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
Issue Date: 427 AM CST WED DEC 23 2009
Expiration: 1200 PM CST WED DEC 23 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND
PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN STARTING TONIGHT...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FREEZING DRIZZLE ACROSS SOUTHWEST
AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA THIS MORNING...
.A MAJOR STORM SYSTEM PRODUCING HEAVY SNOW...POTENTIALLY NEAR
RECORD IN SOME LOCATIONS...AND HAVING CONSIDERABLE IMPACTS ON
HOLIDAY GROUND AND AIR TRAVEL...WILL BEGIN ACROSS SOUTHERN AND
CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN TONIGHT. SNOWFALL
ACCUMULATIONS BY THURSDAY MORNING ARE EXPECTED TO BE BETWEEN TWO
AND FIVE INCHES. THE SNOW WILL LAST THROUGH THURSDAY AND CHRISTMAS
WITH SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS FORECAST. THESE ACCUMULATIONS WILL
LIKELY BE IN EXCESS OF ONE FOOT...WITH 20 INCHES OR MORE IN SOME
LOCATIONS BECOMING MORE LIKELY. THE SNOW MAY MIX WITH FREEZING
RAIN AND SLEET AT TIMES IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND ESPECIALLY WEST
CENTRAL WISCONSIN. MINOR ICE ACCUMULATIONS WILL HAPPEN WHERE THIS
OCCURS. A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF MINNESOTA
AND ALL OF WESTERN WISCONSIN. THE WARNING FOR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
BEGINS AT 6 PM TONIGHT...IN WESTERN WISCONSIN AND EAST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA INCLUDING THE TWIN CITIES AT 9 PM TONIGHT...AND THE
REMAINDER OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA BEGINNING AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. THE
WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH CHRISTMAS NIGHT.
FIRST...FREEZING DRIZZLE ACROSS SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL
MINNESOTA THIS MORNING HAS AND WILL CREATE SLICK ROADWAYS. A
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THAT AREA...INCLUDING
ALBERT LEA...FAIRMONT...MONTEVIDEO...REDWOOD FALLS...AND
INTERSTATE 90 THROUGH NOON TODAY.
THE CENTER OF THE MAJOR STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE FROM THE SOUTHERN
PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON TO IOWA BY THURSDAY NIGHT AND BECOME NEARLY
STATIONARY THROUGH CHRISTMAS. THIS IS A COMPLEX SYSTEM...WITH
EXPECTED PERIODIC BOUTS OF HEAVIER SNOW AT TIMES...AND OCCASIONAL
MIXES WITH SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN ACROSS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND
WESTERN WISCONSIN. THERE WILL INEVITABLY BE PERIODS OF LIGHTER
PRECIPITATION...POTENTIALLY THURSDAY MORNING...BUT NEARLY
CONTINUOUS ACCUMULATING PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED FROM ONSET
THROUGH CHRISTMAS NIGHT. THIS 48 TO 60 HOURS OF SNOWFALL IN MANY
PLACES WILL LEAD TO THE EXTREME SNOWFALL TOTALS BY SATURDAY
MORNING...PARTICULARLY FROM SOUTHWEST THROUGH CENTRAL MINNESOTA.
WINDS WILL GENERALLY BE FROM THE EAST NORTHEAST AT 15 TO 25 MPH
THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. THESE WILL INCREASE AND TURN MORE NORTHERLY
AS THE CENTER OF THE SYSTEM APPROACHES. THE HEAVY WET NATURE OF
THE SNOWFALL IS LIKELY TO KEEP BLOWING SNOW RESTRICTED TO ONLY THE
OPEN RURAL AREAS FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THIS EVENT. BLOWING SNOW
IS MOST PROBABLE IN WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA DURING
THE LATTER HALF OF THE EVENT...FROM THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH
CHRISTMAS NIGHT.
TEMPERATURES WILL BE FAIRLY STEADY IN THE 20S THROUGH THE WINTER
STORM...DROPPING INTO THE TEENS NEAR THE END. WIND CHILLS ARE
EXPECTED TO REMAIN ABOVE ZERO THROUGH THE EVENT.
AS THE STORM SYSTEM APPROACHES AND BEGINS...FORECAST SNOWFALL
AMOUNTS WILL BE FURTHER REFINED. AGAIN...TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS ARE
HIGHLY LIKELY TO EXCEED ONE FOOT OVER CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA AND FAR WESTERN WISCONSIN...WITH SCATTERED AMOUNTS IN
EXCESS OF 20 INCHES PROBABLE. THIS EVENT MAY BECOME COMPARABLE TO
THE HALLOWEEN SNOW STORM OF 1991. GIVEN THE TIMING OF THIS
SYSTEM...HOLIDAY ROAD AND AIR TRAVEL WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPACTED.
MNZ082-083-091>093-231830-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WW.Y.0015.091223T1026Z-091223T1800Z/
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.W.0008.091224T0000Z-091226T1200Z/
WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. JAMES...MANKATO...FAIRMONT...
BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA
426 AM CST WED DEC 23 2009
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY...
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING
TO 6 AM CST SATURDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS
ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FREEZING DRIZZLE...WHICH IS
IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY. A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN
EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST SATURDAY.
FOR THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY...
* TIMING...AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
  REMAINDER OF THE MORNING.
* IMPACTS...ROADWAYS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO BE SLICK EARLY THIS
  MORNING AND WILL CONTINUE SO THROUGH AT LEAST NOON...INCLUDING
  INTERSTATE 90.
FOR THE WINTER STORM WARNING...
* TIMING...SNOW WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS SOUTHERN
  MINNESOTA WITH ACCUMULATING SNOW BEGINNING THIS EVENING.
* 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 16 INCHES PROBABLE.
* MIXED PRECIPITATION...PERIODS OF SLEET ARE PROBABLE AND POSSIBLY
  FREEZING RAIN DURING THIS STORM...PRIMARILY THURSDAY AND
  THURSDAY NIGHT.
* SURFACE VISIBILITY WILL BE REDUCED AS THE EVENT CONTINUES DUE TO
  INCREASING WIND SPEEDS AND BLOWING SNOW.
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... AND THE
POTENTIAL FOR SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN COULD EXACERBATE
CONDITIONS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...
KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN
CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.
&&
$$

WINTER STORM WARNING
Issue Date: 816 PM CST TUE DEC 22 2009
Expiration: 600 AM CST SAT DEC 26 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND
PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN STARTING WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
.A SIGNIFICANT STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE UPPER
MIDWEST STARTING AS EARLY AS WEDNESDAY NIGHT...AND LASTING INTO
SATURDAY. DUE TO THE STRENGTH OF THIS SYSTEM AND THE PROLONGED
PERIOD FOR WHICH THE SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED...THERE WILL BE MAJOR
IMPACTS FOR TRAVELERS...ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY.
ALTHOUGH THERE REMAINS SOME MINOR TIMING ISSUES AND THE EXACT
STORM TRACK IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR...THE LARGE NATURE OF THIS
SYSTEM AND ITS EXPECTED HIGH ENERGY AND MOISTURE CONTENT...WILL
LEAD TO A BROAD AREA OF HEAVY SNOW...WITH SOME SLEET AND FREEZING
RAIN ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST. THIS STORM SYSTEM IS SO COMPLEX
THAT WILL BE SEVERAL BOUTS OF PRECIPITATION WITH THIS EVENT. THE
FIRST IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND SPREAD
NORTHWARD ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST. THIS WAVE HAS ABUNDANT WARM
AIR ASSOCIATED WITH IT...SO THERE MAY BE A MIXTURE OF SLEET AND
FREEZING RAIN AS FAR NORTH SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND PARTS OF
WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THE NEXT WAVE IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE AREA
THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING WITH WIND SPEEDS
INCREASING FROM THE NORTH. THE LAST WAVE WILL LIKELY BE THE WRAP
AROUND MOISTURE WHICH WILL OCCUR FRIDAY AFTERNOON AS THE STORM
SYSTEM BEGINS TO DEPART THE REGION. THE PRECISE TIMING OF EACH
WAVE OF SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION IS STILL UNCERTAIN....AND
LIGHTER PRECIPITATION WILL LIKELY OCCUR DURING ANY LULLS.
AS THE STORM SYSTEM APPROACHES...SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL BE FURTHER
REFINED...BUT TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS WILL LIKELY EXCEED A FOOT OVER
PARTS MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN...WITH AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF 20
INCHES POSSIBLE. GIVEN THE TIMING OF THIS SYSTEM...HOLIDAY ROAD
AND AIR TRAVEL WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED.
MNZ082>085-091>093-231030-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.W.0008.091224T0000Z-091226T1200Z/
WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. JAMES...MANKATO...WASECA...
OWATONNA...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA
816 PM CST TUE DEC 22 2009
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM WEDNESDAY TO
6 AM CST SATURDAY...
A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM WEDNESDAY TO
6 AM CST SATURDAY.
* TIMING... SEVERAL PERIODS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED FROM LATE
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. DUE TO SIGNIFICANT
WARM AIR SURGING NORTHWARD WITH THIS SYSTEM...THERE MAY BE A
PERIOD OF SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
* ACCUMULATIONS...SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW WILL OCCUR WITH
TOTALS POSSIBLY EXCEEDING A FOOT IN A FEW SPOTS. NEAR BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS POSSIBLE AS THE STORM INTENSIFIES THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY. SIGNIFICANT SLEET AND ICE ACCUMULATION IS ALSO POSSIBLE
LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
* SURFACE VISIBILITY WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED AS WINDS
INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH FROM THE EAST ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
BECOMING MORE NORTHEAST...THEN NORTH ON FRIDAY.
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... AND THE
POTENTIAL FOR SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN COULD EXACERBATE
CONDITIONS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...
KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN
CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
$$