The Twin Cities and much of southern Minnesota are in line for heavy snow on Tuesday and bone-chilling cold right behind it, the National Weather Service said.
The heaviest snowfall will be in the Twin Cities area stretching toward Hayward, Wis., with between 4 and 7 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service in Chanhassen. Areas near Red Wing, Faribault and Mankato could see around 4 to 6 inches of snow.
A winter storm warning is in effect from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday for Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington, Carver, Scott, Dakota, Polk, Barron and St. Croix counties.
A band to the west and north, from Marshall to Hutchinson and Cambridge, will get around 1 to 4 inches of snow. Southern Minnesota from Worthington to Albert Lea and Rochester will get a trace more, around 2 to 5 inches. Those areas will be under a winter weather advisory.
"Plan on slippery road conditions," the Weather Service said in an update Monday evening. "The hazardous conditions will impact the morning and evening commutes."
Most of the snow will fall between 4 a.m. and 9 p.m.
"If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency," the alert said.
Behind the storm, the coldest air of the season will filter into the state. High temperatures in the metro and much of Minnesota will be in the teens and low 20s, with windchill values flirting with zero on Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
Temperatures will moderate to the 30s later Thursday and near 40 degrees on Friday before another cool-down arrives Saturday, the Weather Service said.
Staff writer Tim Harlow contributed to this report.