Snowfall totals: Storm delivers season’s biggest snow so far

Well, that escalated quickly.

Our well-advertised clipper delivered significant snow across much of the Upper Midwest Thursday. Winter storm warnings remain in effect until midnight. Gusty winds and blowing snow will continue Thursday night.

The storm tracked a bit farther south than forecast models indicated Wednesday, putting some of the heaviest snowfall totals south and west of the Twin Cities.

Here are some select snowfall totals as of late Thursday afternoon. It is still snowing in some areas, so higher totals may come in overnight.

• Lakota, N.D., 9 inches

• Winthrop, 7.2 inches

• Holt, 7 inches

• New Prague, 7 inches

• Bird Island, 6.8 inches

• Montgomery, 6.7 inches

• West of Belle Plaine, 6.5 inches

• St Peter, Minnesota City, 6.2 inches

• White Bear Lake, 6 inches

• Victoria 5.6 inches

• MSP Airport, Oakdale, Woodbury, Rochester, 5 inches

• Maple Grove, Fridley, 4 inches

Our snow system gradually winds down Thursday night. The heaviest snow zone will be in southeastern Minnesota where another 1 to 3 inches could fall.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s NAM 3 km model winds down the snow. The forecast model loop below runs between 6 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday.

Colder air blows in behind the snow. Lows will be well below zero across the north on Friday morning.

Highs Friday under sunshine and reflective snow cover will struggle to reach the teens south and single digits north.

Christmas week thaw

A milder Pacific flow will boost temperatures Christmas week.

We’ll still have enough snow cover for a white Christmas morning, but snow melt will accelerate late next week.

On Christmas Day, highs will reach the 30s.

We could see low 40s in southern Minnesota late next week.

Get out there and enjoy that fresh snow!