Dense Fog Advisory through 9 AM Thursday... Rain through Saturday... Watch for Flooding

NWS Chanhassen Watches/Warnings as of 3 PM Wednesday... Gray is Dense Fog Advisory... Lime green is Flood Warning... Dark green is Flood Watch

A series of storms will be affecting the area throughout the beginning of the weekend, leading to many days with periods of rain over the whole area. By the end of the day on Saturday, a half an inch to an inch of rain is possible throughout most of the area from the systems.

These systems will keep the temps above freezing during both the day and night, with highs in the lower to middle 40s and lows in the middle to upper 30s. This will allow for continued rapid snow melt, and I would not be surprised if most snow (except for larger piles) will be melted away by the end of the weekend. One thing we will have to watch out for is rising rivers, especially along the Sauk locally. Meanwhile, a Flood Watch has already been issued for the South Fork Crow River below the town of Mayer affecting Carver County due to the rain and melting conditions.

A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect for parts of Minnesota, including Stearns County, until 9 AM Thursday. Check the statement below for the details.

Tonight Rain and Fog 35. Thursday Rain, especially after noon, and Fog 43. Thursday Night More Rain 36. Friday Continued Rainy 45.

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED HEADLINE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
210 PM CST WED MAR 10 2010

...DENSE FOG ADVISORY FOR MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL
MINNESOTA THROUGH TONIGHT...

.A DENSE FOG ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT FOR MUCH
OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...GENERALLY WEST OF A
LINE FROM SAUK CENTRE...TO HUTCHINSON...TO NORTHFIELD TO RED WING.
VISIBILITIES OF A QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS WILL PERSIST ACROSS
MUCH OF THE AREA TONIGHT. POCKETS OF NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY ARE
POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY NEAR THE IOWA BORDER AND THE INTERSTATE 90
CORRIDOR.

MNZ047>049-054>058-064>067-073>075-082>085-091>093-110415-
/O.EXT.KMPX.FG.Y.0009.000000T0000Z-100311T1500Z/
STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-
MEEKER-YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-REDWOOD-BROWN-
NICOLLET-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-
FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MORRIS...GLENWOOD...ST. CLOUD...
MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...
GRANITE FALLS...OLIVIA...HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...REDWOOD FALLS...
NEW ULM...ST. PETER...ST. JAMES...MANKATO...WASECA...OWATONNA...
FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA
210 PM CST WED MAR 10 2010

...DENSE FOG ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST THURSDAY...

THE DENSE FOG ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST THURSDAY.

* VISIBILITY...WIDESPREAD ONE QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS THROUGH
 THIS AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...VISIBILITIES WILL BE NEAR ZERO IN SPOTS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A DENSE FOG ADVISORY MEANS VISIBILITIES WILL FREQUENTLY BE
REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE. IF DRIVING...SLOW DOWN...
USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS...AND LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU.