Possible 'Life-threatening' Blizzard Conditions Forecasted In Minnesota; Winter Storm In Neighbor States

Heavy snow with "dangerously cold air" is expected in Minnesota and its neighboring states starting Thursday afternoon. Possibly "life-threatening" blizzard conditions have also been forecasted in the state as blowing snow is expected to make travel difficult from Thursday through Friday.

"Bitter cold and dangerous wind chills over the northern Plains to surge southward into the central U.S. through Thursday," the National Weather Service (NWS) said in its Short Range Public Discussion report published Tuesday.

Besides Minnesota, other central states like Wisconsin and Iowa are also under Winter Storm Warnings.

Blizzard conditions that bring wind gusts of more than 50 mph are possible late Thursday, the NWS in Twin Cities noted.

Officials said wind chills "will fall to dangerous levels for anyone caught unprepared for the elements."

The risk for travelers from Thursday through Saturday is "especially high," the agency warned, adding that rescue efforts will be "extremely difficult" and will have "life-threatening implications" for both stranded individuals and rescue groups.

In Wisconsin, officials at the NWS in Green Bay said the "greatest concern" from Thursday evening through Friday is drifting and blowing snow that could create near-blizzard conditions in affected areas.

Over in Iowa, officials at the NWS in Des Moines said it is "strongly advised" for residents in Mason City, Algona, Estherville, DSM Metro, Ames, Creston, Lamoni and Ottumwa to postpone travel plans if possible as travel is expected to be an "extreme" hazard Thursday and Friday.

Winter weather alerts in Minnesota

Blizzard Warnings effective from noon Thursday through 6 a.m. Saturday:

• Stevens, Pope, Swift (wind gusts of more than 50 mph, wind chills as low as 40 below zero possible)
• Brown, Kandiyohi, Chippewa, Redwood, Lac Qui Parle, Yellow Medicine, Renville
• Meeker, Sibley, Nicollet, McLeod (wind gusts of up to 45 mph, wind chills as low as 40 below zero possible)
• Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Waseca, Faribault
• Martin Watonwan, Steele, Freeborn

Winter Storm Warning effective through late Friday night:

• Douglas, Todd, Benton, Morrison, Stearns, Wright, Sherburne, Isanti, Mille Lacs, Kanabec, Anoka, Chisago, Dakota, Washington, Ramsey

Winter Storm Warning effective from noon Wednesday through 6 a.m. Thursday:

• Goodhue

Wind Chill Warnings effective from 6 p.m. Wednesday through noon Saturday:

• Lyon, Murray, Lincoln, Rock, Pipestone (wind chills as low as 45 below zero possible)
• Cottonwood, Nobles, Jackson

Winter weather alerts in Wisconsin

Winter Storm Warnings effective from 3 p.m. Wednesday through 6 a.m. Saturday:

• Taylor, Buffalo, Trempealeau (wind gusts as high as 45 mph possible)
• Adams, Crawford, Clark, Jackson, Grant, La Crosse, Juneau, Vernon, Richland, Monroe
• St. Croix, Rusk, Barron, Polk (wind gusts as high as 50 mph possible)
• Chippewa, Eau Claire, Pierce, Pepin, Dunn

Wind Chill Advisories effective through 10 a.m. Wednesday:

• Burnett, Douglas, Price, Washburn, Sawyer
• Ashland, Bayfield, Iron

Winter weather alerts in Iowa

Winter Storm Warnings effective from 3 p.m. Wednesday through 6 a.m. Saturday:

• Floyd, Howard, Mitchell
• Chickasaw, Fayette, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Clayton
• Adair, Audobon, Adams, Calhoun, Boone, Cass, Carroll, Cerro Gordo, Dallas, Crawford, Franklin, Emmet, Guthrie, Greene, Hancock, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Palo Alto, Kossuth, Sac, Story, Pocahontas, Wright, Worth, Winnebago, Webster
• Appanoose, Bremer, Black Hawk, Clarke, Butler, Davis, Grundy, Decatur, Jasper, Madison, Lucas, Marion, Mahaska, Monroe, Polk, Ringgold, Poweshiek, Taylor, Tama, Wapello, Union, Wayne, Warren

Wind Chill Warnings effective through noon Saturday:

• Buena Vista, Cherokee, Dickinson, Clay, Lyon, Ida, Osceola, O'Brien, Woodbury, Sioux, Plymouth
• Harrison, Fremont, Monona, Mills, Page, Montgomery, Shelby, Pottawattamie