Super Bowl Sunday blizzard possible

ST. PAUL -- Upper Midwest football fans may have a really good excuse to stay home Sunday, even better than the 50th Super Bowl. There may be a blizzard.

The National Weather Service on Friday issued a blizzard watch from northwestern Iowa north through eastern South Dakota and North Dakota and western Minnesota. Some northwestern Minnesota counties are under a winter storm watch.

Snow could be accompanied by 60 mph wind gusts from late Saturday through late Sunday thanks to a strong Alberta Clipper system.

The system could reduce visibility and create slick road conditions, especially in open areas.

The strength of the blizzard will depend on how much snow it brings.

In most of the area where the watch was issued, northwest winds are to increase late Saturday, increasing to up to 50 mph at times Sunday, before falling back on Monday. The weather service predicts an inch or two of snow in much of the area, but forecasters say more is possible.

But even in places that receive no snow, the strong winds will whip around snow already on the ground. All of North Dakota and South Dakota west of the blizzard watch are under high wind watches on Sunday.

The storm is expected to create some travel issues Saturday night and throughout Sunday, with temperatures turning sharply colder Sunday.

High temperatures Saturday should be in the mid- to upper-30s, while Sunday temperatures could approach 30 degrees, before quickly falling.

More snow is possible Monday, but with lower wind speeds.