Bracing for a Chilly Thursday: Wind, Snow, and Ice Take Over

The Twin Cities are in for a rough day on Thursday. A weather alert is out, warning of strong winds, a bit of snow, and roads that could turn icy in a flash. The advisory starts at 9 a.m. and lasts until 9 p.m., so plan ahead.

Wind: The Main Story

Gusts between 45 and 60 mph are expected from noon to 9 p.m. That's enough to make walking outside a challenge. Up north, a blizzard warning is still in effect, making travel tricky through the evening.

Schools and Travel Disruptions

• Schools in western Minnesota are already canceling classes for Thursday.
• Most areas won't see much snow—just about 1.5 inches.
• Snow squalls can hit hard, dropping visibility to almost zero for a few minutes. That's a recipe for crashes.

Brutal Thursday Night

• Temperatures near zero in the metro and even colder up north.
• Wind chills could drop into the minus teens or minus 20s by Friday morning.
• Highs will eventually rise into the 10s on Friday, but it won't feel warm anytime soon.

Weekend Outlook

• Saturday: Partly cloudy skies and highs in the mid-to-upper 20s.
• Sunday morning: Chilly again, with temps near zero. But it will warm up into the 10s by afternoon.

Good News: Drier Weather Ahead

• The weather pattern is turning dry.
• The only exception is a possible light snow overnight Friday into Saturday.
• After that, milder temps in the 30s are expected through Christmas and likely through New Year's.

Final Advice

Bundle up, stay alert, and be careful out there. Winter is showing its teeth, and it's not letting go anytime soon.