Winter storm watch issued for Bemidji, area

BEMIDJI -- Beltrami County and much of northwest Minnesota is included in a winter storm watch that could bring as much 6 inches of snow to the region.

The winter storm watch will start overnight Tuesday into much of Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service office in Grand Forks, which oversees the Bemidji area. The watch also impacts the Red River Valley into central Minnesota, as well.

Area counties in addition to Beltrami listed in the storm watch are Clearwater, Hubbard, Pennington, Marshall and Lake of the Woods. In addition to Bemidji, other cities included in the watch are Red Lake, Redby, Ponemah, Park Rapids, Bagley, Clearbrook, Thief River Falls, Grygla and Middle River.

The weather service said 4 to 6 inches of snow is expected to fall, which will impact driving conditions in the region, especially during the morning on Wednesday.

The snow isn't expected to start falling in Bemidji until after 10 p.m. Tuesday, with 2 to 4 inches forecast locally, the weather service said. Temperatures Tuesday will reach nearly 30 degrees, before dropping a bit overnight. Winds should pick up overnight, as well, with gusts of 25 miles per hour on Wednesday, which could cause blowing snow conditions.

There's still a 30 percent chance of snow for on Thursday, as well, but the real news for the rest of the week is that temperatures will drop to December-like numbers. The high temperature on Thursday is set for 20 degrees with a low of about 4; and Friday's high is only forecast at 12 degrees, with a low of 1 on Friday night.

http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/local/3903647-winter-storm-watch-issued-bemidji-area