Alberta clipper to spread snow across Midwest

Some cities, including Chicago and Milwaukee, got thier first flakes of the year as a storm scurried through the north-central U.S.

A strong storm with wind and snow will plague much of the northern Plains, Upper Midwest and south-central Canada on Sunday. After that storm departs, AccuWeather forecasters say that it won't take too long for snow to return.

Many areas in the Dakotas, Minnesota and south-central Canada received their first accumulating snow of the season on Friday. Howard, South Dakota, reported 2.8 inches of snowfall between Nov. 11 and Nov. 12, and both St. Cloud and Chanhassen, Minnesota, saw their first measurable snowfall of the year. St. Cloud saw .5 inches and Chanhassen saw .2 inches of snowfall.

Chisholm reported one of the most impressive totals of 6.8 inches of snow on Thursday and Friday.

The next storm system contained less moisture, but many more locations had their first snow of the season.

"Cold air descended from Canada into the North Central states and bring another round of snowfall to the Dakotas, Minnesota and Great Lakes region over the weekend," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyssa Smithmyer.

The storm system, known as an Alberta clipper, moved southeastward through North Dakota and into Minnesota on Saturday.

On Saturday night, much of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and northern Indiana received snow. Chicago and Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin, had not yet received a flake of snow this season before this.

In general, this is right around the normal time of year when the first accumulating snow occurs. Chicago typically receives its first measurable snow on Nov. 18. Meanwhile, Milwaukee and Madison usually have their first occurrence on Nov. 15 and Nov. 11, respectively.

Fargo and Grand Forks, North Dakota, both received around 3 inches from this storm.

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The clipper will eventually move into the Northeast on Sunday. However, there will be a lead system that may bring snow ahead of the incoming clipper. The air in the Northeast will not be as cold as farther to the west, but that will not eliminate the chance of snow.

"Locations across the interior Northeast in higher elevations can expect temperatures to drop to sub-freezing levels overnight on Sunday," said Smithmyer.

The Alberta clipper will slow down as it moves into the Northeast. Very limited moisture is expected to be left by the time the system reaches the region. However, the air will be colder and the first flakes are possible in many more locations. The chance of snowflakes falling along the coast is very low, forecasters say.

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