A strong low pressure system will move into the upper midwest this afternoon bringing a good chance for precipitation and very strong winds through Tuesday.

It doesn’t feel like December this morning with temperatures in the 40s and 50s across the region. However, don’t be fooled as a strong low pressure system is beginning to form over Colorado right now. This low pressure system will rapidly strengthen as it moves eastward and onto the plains towards the upper midwest this afternoon. How fast this low strengthens and how quickly temperatures cool down will determine just how much snow we will get out of this low.

For southern and central Minnesota and Wisconsin, the colder temperatures most likely arrive too late to allow for any decent snow accumulation. Around the Twin Cities and St Croix River valley, snowfall totals won’t get over and inch, but with warm ground temperatures, no accumulation is also a good probability. These totals will slowly increase as you move north, as already cooler temperatures will allow for a quicker to switchover to snow, and the northeasterly track will allow for a longer period of precipitation. Right now I’d say between 3-6” in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin where there is not lake effect/enhancement, but will entirely depend on how quick the precipitation switches over to snow.

As for the south shore and UP, lake effect will help provide greater snow totals with a favorable wind direction, and this lake effect snowfall will continue throughout the week rather than just overnight tonight. Portions of the Iron Range and further east along the UP will see between 4-8” over the next 72 hours, with totals surpassing over a foot as the week goes along.

Snowfall totals through Wednesday night.

After the low pressure moves off to the east during the day on Tuesday, cold arctic air will be the story at least for the next week with only a few chance for snow showers over the next 7 days. Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin could see another few inches of snow during the day on Thursday, and lake effect snow on the south side of the lake will be further enhanced. There is another smaller low pressure system that could move through again on Sunday, once again only effecting the northern half of the region. Otherwise it’s just looking like above freezing temperatures are a thing of the past, Happy December!