New snowstorm to sweep across north-central US, neighboring Canada into Monday
On the heels of the storm returning snow to Chicago, another snowstorm will continue to streak along the border of Canada and the north-central United States through Monday.
After starting the weekend unfolding over Alberta, the new storm spread a swath of snow across southern Saskatchewan, northern Montana and North Dakota for the second half of the weekend.
Less than 24 hours after temperatures were climbing into the 50s in Great Falls, Montana, on Saturday, the city endured blizzard conditions amid temperatures in the 20s on Sunday.
In the higher terrain south of Great Falls, persistent snow into Sunday night can push the AccuWeather Local StormMax™ to 24 inches (60 cm)
This snowy scene was captured along U.S. Route 87 at Geyser, Montana, on April 28, 2019. (Image/Montana Department of Transportation)
The heaviest snow has targeted places to the north, but motorists traveling along Interstate 94 from Bismarck, North Dakota, to Billings, Montana, should remain alert for slick spots due to snow showers on Sunday night. Bridges and overpasses would be the first to turn slippery.
Strong winds howling around Billings can also create hazards for high-profile vehicles through the first part of the night.
The snow will diminish across Montana through Sunday night, while spreading to the upper Great Lakes into Monday.
Since the storm is past its peak intensity, snow amounts should generally be held to 3-6 (8-15 cm) inches across northern North Dakota and neighboring southeastern Saskatchewan.
It may be too warm for little, if any, snow to accumulate along the Red River of the North in Fargo and Grand Forks, North Dakota, on Sunday night.
A slight increase in elevation, however, can bring some accumulation to northern Minnesota and parts of northern Wisconsin and the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan into Monday.
As is typical this time of year, the highest snow totals will be measured on non-paved surfaces.
Snow will initially melt on paved roads and sidewalks due to the warmth stored up during the stretch of spring warmth preceding the storm.
That does not mean that motorists should let their guard down. Where the snow falls heavily for a time and/or temperatures drop to freezing, roads and sidewalks can still turn slushy or slippery into Monday morning.
The majority of roads should be wet on Monday afternoon.
"The Twin Cities will be spared from this late April snowfall," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski. Most of the snow will also bypass Winnipeg.
Download the free AccuWeather app to find out if snow and travel hazards are anticipated in your community. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Children and those young at heart looking to play in the late-season snow should not waste time.
Temperatures climbing above freezing the day following the storm will quickly cause the snow to melt, but re-freezing of wet or slushy areas is a concern as temperatures then plunge at night.
This storm may not be the last snowmaker for the north-central United States.
AccuWeather meteorologists will be monitoring a storm set to emerge out of the central Rockies to bring snowflakes or even a swath of accumulating snow to a part of the northern Plains as April transitions to May.
