Arctic air to follow waves of snow across northern Plains, Great Lakes as 2019 begins

By Courtney Spamer, AccuWeather meteorologist

December 31, 2018, 10:58:21 AM EST

Two storms will bring snow to parts of the North Central states, and then open the door for brutal cold into the new year.

Snow began in the northern Plains on Sunday and picked up in intensity across the Dakotas and Minnesota on Sunday night.

While the snow has largely ended for most of North Dakota, snow will continue from parts of South Dakota and western Nebraska to central Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Before snow tapers off during Monday night, several inches of accumulation is expected across the area.

The heaviest snow is likely from western South Dakota to northern Minnesota, where as much as 3-6 inches of snow is possible in total.

Download the free AccuWeather app to get the latest on how much snow is expected for your area.

Increasingly windy conditions will take place across the Dakotas as well, making for wind-blown snow, said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.

Gusty winds will spread into Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan into Monday night, putting travelers at risk for reduced visibility from blowing snow along interstates 29, 35, 90 and 94.

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This snow will usher in arctic air, which combined with gusty winds will make for AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures between zero and minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday night.

“RealFeel® Temperatures can plummet to around minus 30 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and minus 38 in Fargo and Grand Forks, North Dakota, on Monday evening,” added Pydynowski.

In such conditions, frostbite can occur on exposed skin in less than 30 minutes.

Farther south, as a separate storm brings rain to parts of the South and Ohio Valley during New Year’s Eve, some snow and a wintry mix will fall on its northwestern flank.

Slippery conditions are expected for those traveling on Monday night from parts of Iowa, southern Wisconsin and the northern part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Brisk northerly winds will accompany the snow, with gusts up to 25 mph.

A few flakes may linger across Michigan through the morning hours on New Year’s Day, but the majority of the snow at that point will have moved into Ontario and Quebec.

Instead, dry and cold air will grip the Great Lakes. High temperatures on Tuesday will struggle to reach the middle 30s across northern Illinois and Michigan.

The cold will likely linger through Wednesday, before warming up later in the week.

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