Rochester Public Schools Close Friday Ahead of Winter Storm

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Almost the entire State of Minnesota is now under a winter storm warning for Friday and Saturday.

Click to View Weather Closings & Delays For Friday, January 17, 2020

As of late Thursday afternoon, only Houston County in the far southeast corner of the state and three counties in the far northwest corner of Minnesota are not included in the warning.

The National Weather Service is now saying the snow should arrive in southeastern Minnesota in the late morning or early afternoon and continue through the evening. There is a possibility of some freezing precipitation in this region late Friday night, while all snow is predicted to the north.

Forecasters are currently predicting the heaviest snow will fall in a band running from Willmar into Wisconsin that extends to near Hinckley on the north and Red Wing to the south where the totals could approach 10-inches. At this point, the forecast is calling for 3-8 inches in the Rochester area but the National Weather Service notes revisions to the forecast are possible.

Gusty winds are expected to cause problems for travelers on Saturday. Forecasters say gusts could reach 40 miles-per-hour from the northwest as the storm system moves to the east.

The Rochester Public Schools announced Thursday afternoon that classes and other activities on Friday had been canceled due to the stormy forecast.

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