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Expect A Slippery Commute Thursday, Heavy Snow In SE Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Following days of melting and near spring-like temperatures, winter weather looks to return Wednesday night, with a storm system that'll bring a sheer drop in temperatures and headaches for Twin Cities commuters.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for most of the state for Wednesday night through Thursday. While parts of central Minnesota only look to see 1 to 2 inches of snow, areas of northern Minnesota and southern Minnesota could see 3 to 6 inches accumulate.

In the Twin Cities, a dusting to a few inches of snow is possible. A bigger concern, however, is timing, as the system will hit during the morning commute, possibly dropping freezing rain and sleet, which could create a layer of ice under the snow. Expect a slow, slippery ride to work.

Read More: Twin Cities Road Crews Prepare For January Storm

MnDOT says plow truck drivers will be ready at midnight, prepared to work 12-hour shifts. Spokesperson Kent Barnard says roads will not be pre-treated, because rain might wash the solution away.

Meanwhile, a winter storm warning is in effect for northwestern Minnesota, as weather officials expect blowing snow, wind gusts up to 40 mph and slippery road conditions Wednesday night.

Meteorologist Matt Brickman says the storm system looks to hit into the state in two bands.

The first will hit northern Minnesota Wednesday night and the second will sweep through southern Minnesota early Thursday morning and linger into the afternoon.

The heaviest snow looks to fall southeast of the Twin Cities, in a line stretching from Albert Lea through Red Wing and into western Wisconsin. Communities in the line could see up to 6 inches of snow.

With the storm will come a significant drop in temperatures.

While afternoon highs Wednesday will be above 40 degrees in many parts of Minnesota, the mercury will plunge overnight. By Thursday afternoon, highs look to only be in the single digits.

The arctic cold is expected to stick around for the weekend and the early part of next week. Expect single-digit highs and subzero lows.

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