Now comes the storm: 4-12 inches of snow expected in Twin Cities

After yet another balmy February day featuring the metro area’s fifth record high in the past six days, Minnesotans were switching back to their heavy winter coats to prepare for a major snowstorm expected to move in Thursday and last well into Friday.

Late Wednesday, a blizzard watch was in effect for those days for much of southwestern Minnesota, including Pipestone, Fairmont and Mankato. A slightly less dire winter storm watch covered a broad swath of south-central and southeastern Minnesota, including Willmar, St. Cloud, the Twin Cities, Rochester and Red Wing and moving northeast into western Wisconsin. The National Weather Service in Chanhassen said the watches could be upgraded to warnings overnight.

http://www.startribune.com/one-more-warm-day-for-twin-cities-before-the-other-snow-shoe-drops/414503773/