St. Cloud State University meteorology professor Bob Weisman says Central Minnesotans should prepare for a final blast of wintery weather for 2010.  Weisman say we are about to hit a double-barreled storm system that will have a major impact in west central and northwestern Minnesota, and cause some problems Friday in St. Cloud.  The good news, the storm will have little impact in the Twin Cities.

For Thursday, Weisman expects rain in St. Cloud and in the Twin Cities in the afternoon, but there will be freezing rain changing to wet snow in Morris, Alexandria, Ortonville, and Fergus Falls with 2-4 inches possible. Starting Friday, St. Cloud will have a chance of some afternoon and early evening wet snow with 2-4 inches expected. This will be a mixed bag event in the Twin Cities, but could dump 6-8 inches more of snow in the same part of west central and northwest Minnesota that is expecting the snow Thursday.  That snow will fall heavy at times and have strong winds, so expect many travel problems and even road closures interfering with New Year’s Eve plans in the Red River Valley and as close to us as Alexandria and Granite Falls.

The weekend calls for a lot colder conditions with dangerous wind chills.