WeatherFanatics: Snow, Arctic Blast to Return Across Northern Plains This Weekend

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Snow, Arctic Blast to Return Across Northern Plains This Weekend

January 3,2015; 9:15PM,EST

An Alberta Clipper will bring snow, wind and another blast of frigid air to part of the North Central states this weekend.
Snow will expand from the southern Canada Rockies to the central Rockies of the United States and the Upper Midwest through Saturday.
The heaviest snowfall will occur along the U.S./Canada border over northern Minnesota and northern North Dakota where some locations could receive 6-12 inches of snow.

Along with snowfall, increasing winds will cause blowing and drifting snow and dangerous travel.
According to Accuweather.com Meteorologist Ben Noll, "Winds over the weekend could gust over 40 mph, especially over North Dakota."

Major traffic delays will be expected across Interstate 29 between Fargo, North Dakota, and the Canadian border as well as Interstate 94 between Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Billings, Montana.
As the system moves through, a blast of cold air will come down from Canada on Saturday. "After the passage of the cold front, temperatures can drop over 20 degrees F during the day Saturday," Noll said.

Temperatures are expected to drop rapidly throughout the day Saturday into the single digits or even below zero. Combined with 20- to 30-mph winds from the north, AccuWeather Real Feel® Temperatures will dip between -20 to -40 degrees.
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According to Accuweather.com Meteorologist Randy Adkins, "This will be the coldest air mass of the season so far across the Rockies and Plains."
Sunday will be the coldest day of the weekend as high temperatures will be well below zero across North Dakota and Minnesota. Some locations across northern North Dakota and northern Minnesota will fail to reach -10 F for a daytime high.
"The cold weather is expected to last into the middle of next week with temperatures remaining well below average," Adkins said.
This storm system will merge with another area of low pressure over the Missouri Valley on Saturday and will bring snow to the Great Lakes late Saturday through Sunday.
Soon after one blast of cold air settles to the east and south, another blast of frigid air will take aim on the Midwest and Northeast starting during the middle of next week.
Story by Accuweather.com Meteorologist Brett Rathbun.

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