Northern snow blitz: North Shore upgraded to winter storm warning

North Shore communities are in the snow zone for Minnesota’s next winter storm warning.

The Duluth National Weather Service office has upgraded a swath along and above the North Shore to a winter storm warning for Tuesday.

Southern Lake-Southern Cook- Including the cities of Two Harbors, Silver Bay, and Grand Marais

227 PM CST Mon Jan 17 2022

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TUESDAY TO MIDNIGHT CST TUESDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 9 inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

* WHERE...Southern Lake and Southern Cook Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Grand Portage Reservation.

* WHEN...From 4 AM Tuesday to midnight CST Tuesday night. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snowfall rates of up to 1.5 inches per hour are possible mid Tuesday morning into Tuesday afternoon. The strongest winds are expected from the northwest late Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning. Blowing snow could lead to reduced visibilities.

Snow breaks out overnight

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s NAM 3 km model seems to have a pretty good handle on the evolution of snowfall coverage through Tuesday. The loop below runs between midnight Tuesday and midnight Wednesday.

Watch how snow moves into northwest Minnesota after midnight, then cover most of northern Minnesota by around 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Snowfall totals

The heaviest snow bands should fall along the North Shore between about 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday. Winds coming off of Lake Superior will enhance snowfall totals along and above the North Shore in the Sawtooth Mountains.

Red River Valley near-blizzard

Snow and blowing snow will also cause poor travel conditions in the Red River Valley Tuesday.

Factor in snow and wind if you must travel in northern Minnesota Tuesday.