Minnesota Weather: 'Potentially Historic' April Snowstorm On Way

TWIN CITIES, MN — The late, great Minnesota music legend Prince once wrote a song titled "Sometimes It Snows In April," and he was 100 percent correct. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for much of central Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro area. The watch currently covers the following counties: Douglas, Todd, Morrison, Mille Lacs, Kanabec, Benton, Sherburne, Isanti, Chisag, Wrigh, Hennepin, Anoka, Ramsey, Washington, McLeod, Sibley, Carver, Scott, Dakota, Brown, Nicollet, Le Sueur, Rice, Goodhue, Watonwan, Blue Earth, Waseca, Steele, Martin, Faribault, Freeborn, and Polk.

Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are possible in the watch area.

"A powerful storm will bring heavy precipitation to the region Wednesday night through early Friday. Blizzard conditions are expected across western Minnesota where wind gusts of 50+ mph will combine with over a foot of snow to produce nearly impossible travel conditions," says the National Weather Service.

"A wintry mix may persist into Thursday from south central to east central MN and west central WI, resulting in a tight snowfall gradient in that corridor."

Read more about the winter storm watch below:

"A potentially historic winter storm is expected starting Wednesday evening lasting into early Friday morning. Confidence is high that a band of heavy snow will reach central and western Minnesota Wednesday evening and continue through Thursday, tapering off in intensity gradually Thursday night. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour will be possible at times. Periods of mixed precipitation in the form of rain, snow, and sleet are expected along and south of a line from New Ulm, to the Twin Cities metro, to Rice Lake, Wisconsin. There is still considerable uncertainty where this transition zone will set up. A tighter gradient in snowfall totals than currently forecast should be expected along this zone."

Winter storm watch now in effect, per the NWS:

What: Heavy mixed precipitation possible. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch possible. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph.

Where: Portions of northwest and west central Wisconsin and east central and south central Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro area.

When: From Wednesday evening through Friday morning.

"Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility," notes the NWS. "The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute."

Here's watch to expect from the storm, as of Monday. Find the NWS Twin Cities, Minnesota weather forecast below:

Wednesday: A slight chance of snow before 10 a.m., then a slight chance of rain and snow between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., then a chance of rain after 11 a.m. Cloudy, with a high near 42. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Wednesday Night: Rain and snow before 11 p.m., then snow between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., then snow, possibly mixed with sleet after 4 a.m. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. Patchy blowing snow between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Low around 31. Blustery, with an east northeast wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Thursday: Rain and sleet, possibly mixed with snow and freezing rain before noon, then rain between noon and 1 p.m., then rain and snow after 1 p.m. The snow and sleet could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. High near 36. Windy, with an east northeast wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Thursday Night: Snow. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 30. Blustery, with a northeast wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Friday: Snow likely before 1 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., then a chance of rain after 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 37. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. West wind around 5 mph becoming southeast after midnight.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast after midnight.

Monday: A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. South southeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.