Winter storm could bring 3-5 inches of snow today; more by Monday

Yesterday, dense fog greeted commuters on the where way to work in the northern Red River Valley.

This morning, light snow, or perhaps freezing rain or sleet, depending on your location. Regardless, 3 to 5 inches of snow is likely by tonight.

In a related matter, I-94 was closed between Fergus Falls and Alexandria, Minn., at about 6:30 a.m. today as a result of several accidents on the slick highway. It remains closed.

As for the forecast, Saturday should provide a brief respite, before a stronger winter storm packing gusty wind whips through the valley Sunday and Monday.

Grand Forks is on the edge of an upper level disturbance that prompted another winter weather advisory today from the National Weather Service for much of the region.

A hazardous weather outlook has been issued for northwest Minnesota, with perhaps 1 to 2 inches of snow along and north of a line from Bemidji and Thief River Falls to Pembina, N.D.

Meteorologists say snow will be rather light in most areas this morning, with more snow along a line from Cando, N.D., through Devils Lake, into Fargo, where snow already was falling by 6 a.m.

The snow should let up for a few hours today and skies could clear, before a second wave of snow arrives this afternoon and lasts into tonight, according to the weather service.

Temperatures are expected to range from the mid-teens to the mid-20s, with winds 10 to 20 mph.

A total of 3 to 5 inches of snow is expected south of a line from Langdon, N.D., to Grand Forks and Park Rapids, Minn.

Lesser amounts likely will fall to the northeast. Periods of freezing rain or sleet may precede or mix with the snow early this morning in some areas, but is more likely south of I-94.

While a reprieve from snow might be possible on Saturday, meteorologists are keeping a close eye on a second storm system that will roll ashore in the Pacific Northwest on Saturday and possibly spread a swath of snow, rain, thunderstorms and wind across a large part of the nation next week.

Another 2 to 5 inches of snow is possible through much of the region Sunday and Sunday night, before another 3 to 5 inches of snow hitting Monday, with a total of 6 inches or more likely in some areas, according to the weather service's latest forecast.

Winds likely will increase from Sunday to Monday, reaching the 30-mph range on Monday, with blowing snow reducing visibility and creating driving hazards in some areas.

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