What an interesting end to 2011 we have shaping up for us here in eastern Minnesota!  According to the National Weather Service, we will be under a Winter Storm Warning from 6:00 p.m. this evening through 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning.  We will also be under a Wind Advisory from 6:00 a.m. Sunday through midnight Sunday night (but our winds will actually become strong before that).  Forecast-wise, we could see some peaks of sunshine this morning, but clouds will increase as moisture begins to move into the area.  We should enjoy a high temperature in the lower 40’s today.  Expect rain or drizzle this afternoon, turning over to snow early this evening. Once the snow begins, our winds will quickly pick-up in intensity, blowing from the northwest at 30-35 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph.  That combination of snowfall and strong winds should make for poor visibility and difficult driving conditions overnight tonight, so be careful if your plans for New Years Eve include going out for the evening.  Sunday will be cooler, with high temps in the 20’s and continued windy conditions and scattered snow flurries.  We could end up with 2-3 inches of snow out of this storm (although it may be difficult to measure with the wind blowing like that!).  Yes indeed, it is looking as though our non-existent weather may be contemplating turning over a new leaf for the new year, so stay tuned…

Our high on Friday was 32 degrees, while the low was 28.  We received 0.01″ of precipitation from a mix of rain and snow.  Current conditions this morning include a temperature of 32 degrees, winds from the east at 5 mph, and a falling barometer showing 29.71 inches of pressure (all of which indicate a storm is approaching!).  The river is 5.27 feet deep.

Weather records in the books for this last day of the year include a high temperature of 46 degrees (set in 1949), a low of -28 degrees (from 1979), 7.2″ of snow (1977), and 0.98″ of moisture (2006).

According to the Weather Trivia Department, on this date back in 1913 New Ulm saw its 40th consecutive day without precipitation.  In 1937, Grand Marais received damage from a flood, while 18″ of snow fell on Grand Portage.  Then, in 1999, a balmy end to the year and the decade was noted with temperatures in the 30’s at midnight over much of central and southern Minnesota.

In Chaska on this date one year ago, we saw a high of 21 degrees and a low of -1.  We received 0.4″ of snow, which left our snow cover at 9 inches.  The river was 14.50 feet deep.