Winter Storm Watch Issued for Dakota County

Here we go again.

Monday morning’s commute could be a major mess, as the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Dakota County and most of the Twin Cities region, beginning early Sunday morning and continuing through Monday afternoon. Snow accumulations of up to 10 inches are possible.

Northfield could be right on the edge of the system; as of Friday morning, the storm watch had not been extended to Rice County. To the north of us, however, the precipitation should begin with a light, wintry mix Saturday night, turning to heavy snow by late Sunday. To top it all off, strong winds on the back end of the front will result in blowing, drifting snow on Sunday night and Monday morning.

The Twin Cities region isn’t getting hit nearly so hard as other areas of the country. A blizzard watch is in effect for western and central Minnesota, which could see more than a foot of snow, along with winds of up to 45 mph.

Meanwhile, the Northeast is preparing for a blizzard of historic proportions, with up to three feet of snow expected in areas around Boston. Airlines are already canceling flights to the region, and that’s having a ripple effect on schedules throughout the country. Travelers are advised to check airline websites before heading for the airport.