Winter storm could dump 20 inches of snow on southern half of MN by Friday

Forecasters say the southern half of Minnesota could get up to 20 inches of snow, in two waves beginning Tuesday through Friday morning.  Nick Carletta with the National Weather Service in Chanhassen:

“If you live in the southern half of Minnesota, you will be significantly impacted by this storm in a way that it could make it difficult to near-impossible to travel, from especially Wednesday into Thursday.”

Carletta says the first wave from late Tuesday into Wednesday morning will be a more typical winter storm with snowfalls in the three- to eight-inch range, depending on location.  But during the second wave — Wednesday afternoon into Thursday —  snowfall will be heavier and winds will pick up.  Forecasters say not only could travel be very difficult to impossible, but gusty winds could cause power outages.