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Minnesota Weather: Blast Of Winter Brings Flurries, Cold Rain To Twin Cities

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Snowflakes and light drizzle are falling in parts of the Twin Cities late Friday afternoon -- but it is nothing compared to what folks are dealing with in the southwest corner of the state.

Meteorologist Chris Shaffer says the Dakotas experienced an unseasonable amount of snowfall Thursday, and the flakes are still flying there and in northwestern Minnesota, and it will continue into Saturday. Snowfall amounts from Detroit Lakes on westward are estimated to be between 3 and 10 inches. Much of the snow will melt on contact, so don't bust out the yard stick just yet.

With winds gusting as strong as 40 miles an hour, the National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for the area. A Winter Storm Warning also extends into northwestern and west-central Minnesota until Saturday.

READ MORE: Good For Apples, Bad For Most Plants: Wintry Weather Visits October

The average temperature for Friday is 61 degrees, but temps have plummeted in the past day into the low 30s in parts of the state. And temps will continue to tumble overnight, going as low as the low 20s in the northwestern Twin Cities. Minneapolis will be around freezing point, and southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin will be under a bonafide Freeze Warning overnight, so cover those plants.

Folks out under the Friday night lights in the metro will need to bundle up, and brace themselves for the occasional snowflake. Friday will actually be tame snow-wise compared to Saturday, where we will even see some accumulation on the grass.

Temps won't budge past the mid 30s for most of the state Saturday, making it a cold and raw day. But Meteorologist Chris Shaffer says it will get better. We'll slowly warm up into the low 60s by this time next week.

This Is How Some Minnesotans Are Handling This Glimpse Of Winter!

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