Winter storm watch to take effect Tuesday

A winter storm watch will be in effect starting at noon on Tuesday in Pine, Kanabec, Chisago, Isanti, and Mille Lacs counties.

According to the National Weather Service, a stronger clipper system is forecast to bring potentially heavy snow to parts of east-central Minnesota.

The watch will run through 3 a.m. Wednesday in Pine County, with total accumulations between 3 and 5 inches possible.

Snowfall rates of half-an-inch to one inch per hour are possible Tuesday afternoon and evening, and hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday evening commute.

The watch extends through 6 a.m. Wednesday in Kanabec, Chisago, Isanti, and Mille Lacs counties, where a narrow band of 4 to 7 inches of snow is possible.

Winds could gust as high as 40 miles per hour.

Stay tuned to the WCMP and KBEK Facebook pages for weather updates and cancelations/delays.