Residents of Southeast Minnesota awoke today to a thin blanket of snow covering the region that made for a tricky morning commute, but warmer weather appears to be just around the corner.
The Rochester area received about 1.3 inches of precipitation when the skies opened up Thursday afternoon, and some of that turned to ice and snow overnight when temperatures dipped to 23 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wis.
Stewartville received 1.5 inches of snow, while Caledonia was hit by an inch, according to the Weather Service. Western Wisconsin was hit particularly hard, with snow totals approaching 4 inches in some cities.
Cannon Falls was also hit by up to 2 inches of snow, which made travel difficult for some motorists. The Minnesota Department of Transportation reported that some roads were completely covered with snow, while others were partially impaired. MnDOT warned motorists to slow down and drive with caution on the way to work today.
"Cannon Falls to Zumbrota on (U.S. Highway) 52 was a bear tonight!" Rep. Kim Norton, D-Rochester, tweeted Thursday night after driving home from St. Paul.
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There's a 40 percent chance of additional precipitation today, which is expected to be rain as temperatures increase to a high of 48. That should help wash away any snow accumulation that occurred overnight, but higher temperatures are on tap for the weekend.
The forecast for Saturday is sunny with a high of 62, which is expected to kick off a four-day stretch of days in the 60s. After a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms on Sunday, the Weather Service is predicting highs of 62 and 67 on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
