A winter storm watch is in effect from midnight Sunday through 6 a.m. Monday for Oakdale and most of the Twin Cities region, as “Orko” sweeps across Minnesota.

According to the National Weather Service:

• SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 7-12 INCHES.
• TIMING: SNOW WILL BEGIN LATE TONIGHT... AND BECOME HEAVY ON SUNDAY... THEN TAPER OFF TO SNOW SHOWERS SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. WINDS WILL INCREASE MONDAY MORNING AND CAUSE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.
• MAIN IMPACTS: HEAVY WET SNOW WILL CAUSE POOR DRIVING CONDITIONS ON SUNDAY... AND THE STRONG WINDS WILL LEAD TO BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ON MONDAY. TRAVEL WILL LIKELY BE DIFFICULT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON. 

Because temperatures on Sunday will hover right around the freezing point, however, the National Weather Service says “there is still uncertainty” about just how much snow may stick. What is certain right now: Monday morning’s commute is likely to be a sloppy mess.

A wintry mix of snow, freezing rain and sleet should start falling late tonight, transitioning to a mix of rain and snow during Sunday, then switching to heavy snow at some point Sunday afternoon. Strong winds on Sunday night will blow the snow around, creating hazardous travel conditions.

According to the NWS: A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our free email newsletter