Winter storm to bring up to a foot of snow to Minnesota; 3

A winter storm arriving Friday night and continuing through Saturday could drop up to a foot of snow in Minnesota.

The National Weather Service's final estimates for the "long duration snow event" pegs the highest amounts of 7-13 inches of snow in southern Minnesota, including Rochester.

The Twin Cities is at the northern edge of the heaviest accumulation, with the NWS expecting 2-5 inches to fall, though it notes that higher amounts – potentially up to 8 inches – may be possible in the southern metro counties.

The winter storm warning for the south of Minnesota went into effect at 6 p.m. Friday and continues through 6 a.m. Sunday.

But unlike the usual snowstorm in Minnesota, most of the snow that falls on Saturday will be light, but will accumulate as it falls over a prolonged period.