UPDATED: Storm Shifts, But Richfield Still Looking at Hazardous Weather

Updated: 10 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, 2013

After a day of rain and snowflakes, Hennepin County is no longer in a winter storm warning. The warning was removed from the National Weather Service's outlook for Richfield Wednesday night.

The warning was orginially in effect from 3 p.m. Wednesday to 7 p.m. Thursday, with predictions of snow falling as 1–2 inches per hour.

The storm appears to have shifted to the southeast, however, the rain is still expected to switch to snow again overnight. New snowfall totals are expected to be around two inches for the west metro.

***Original Text***

Happy May Day. Now that we've taken care of that, there's a new Winter Storm Warning from the National Weather Service for Richfield promising "heavy snow"—like as many as 9 inches.

We're likely to set a record for the most snow we've ever had in the month of May, according to WCCO-AM.

Here is the text of the Winter Storm Warning that the National Weather Service announced at 3:54 a.m. Wednesday:

RARE MAY SNOW STORM TO IMPACT THE REGION THROUGH THURSDAY

A cold front will stall over southern Wisconsin into central Iowa through tonight. Several areas of low pressure will shift northeast along this front, working within a strong surge of incoming colder air to produce periods of moderate to heavy accumulating snow over the region, mainly this afternoon through midday Thursday.

A winter storm warning is in effect approximately within 50 miles either side of a line from Rice Lake, WI through the Twin Cities metro to Mankato to Blue Earth. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour can be expected mid to late this afternoon and again overnight tonight with total amounts of 6 to 9 inches within this area. ...

The National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen has issued a winter storm warning for heavy snow which is in effect from 3 p.m this afternoon to 7 p.m. CDT Thursday.

• Timing: Rain this morning will transition over to snow by mid afternoon. Snow will then continue in periodic bands through tonight and taper off during the day Thursday. Snow may be heavy at times this evening through the early morning hours.
• Snow accumulation: 6–9 inches.
• Other impacts: Rapid snow accumulation may quickly make travel hazardous.